The master of a Greek tanker that dropped off radars in West Africa has confirmed it was hijacked.
The 10,700-dwt Pantelena (built 2006) disappeared on 14 August off Gabon but was spotted last Thursday off Congo, with the Centre Regional de la Securite Maritime de l'Afrique Centrale (CRESMAC) saying the ship had lost contact due to inadequate technical equipment.
But the Tass news agency cited captain Lasha Gadelia as telling Georgian state television that the two Russians and 17 Georgians on board had been released after being captured by pirates.
