17 March 2017

News Story: Hijacked oil tanker released by Somali pirates - Sri Lankan crew members safe aboard hijacked vessel

Hijacked oil tanker released by Somali pirates: NGO

MOGADISHU, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Oceans Beyond Piracy, a privately funded and independent non-profit organization, announced late Thursday on its Twitter account that pirated Aris 13 oil tanker is now free and the crew are safe.

John Steed, a former British army officer with the NGO, also confirmed the release and said the ship is proceeding to Bossaso, a port city in the Bari region of Puntland state in northeastern Somalia.

Read the full story at Xinhua

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Sri Lankan crew members safe aboard hijacked vessel: official

COLOMBO, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweeraon said on Thursday that the crew members aboard the vessel hijacked by Somali pirates docked in the Port town of Alula were safe.

The official told reporters here that Sri Lanka is in touch with all necessary sides and keeping a close watch on the situation.

He said the Sri Lankan ambassador to Ethiopia was working closely with the Somali government and Sri Lanka had been informed that it was a piracy situation.

Read the full story at Xinhua