Unconfirmedreports say the 29,700-dwt Orna (built 1984) has been released after a ransomof $600,000 was paid on Friday.
Detailsof the release remain sketchy, but alleged pirate chief Hassan Abdi is quotedby the Associated Press (AP) as confirming that the ship is free.
Unfortunately,the situation looks far from fully resolved with news that six hostages fromthe UAE-flagged ship are still being held hostage.
Piratesshot dead one of the Syrian crew members in August over delayed payments, whileanother seafarer was injured.
Lastsummer, pirates and hostages were forced to abandon the Orna after a fire brokeout. Itis thought the initial blaze broke out in the ship’s galley.
TheOrna, which is owned by Kassab Intershipping, was hijacked 400 nautical milesnorth-east of the Seychelles in December 2010.
Thebulker was en route from Durban, South Africa to the Indian port of Okhaa witha cargo of coal.
Earlierthis month the 22,000-dwt Free Goddess (built 1985) was released by piratesafter a ransom was paid.
