No Ransom, No Release

In recent months the number of pirate attacks along Somalia’s coast has dropped, but an estimated 97 seafarers remain in the hands of pirates

No Ransom, No Release For Hostages of Somali Pirates

In recent months the number of pirate attacks along Somalia’s coast has dropped, but an estimated 97 seafarers remain in the hands of pirates.  Many of these hostages are uninsured and negotiations for their release have come to a standstill.

For two years and nine months now, Somali pirates have held the crewmembers of the Malaysian flagged MV Albedo. The hostages were confined to the vessel until it sank last month, when four of the fifteen men went missing.

The Albedo was uninsured and its Iranian owner has disappeared, leaving nobody to foot the ransom bill for the 11 remaining hostages.

John Steed, a counter piracy expert who now runs a hostage support program, has been working for their release.

“There is no ransom negotiation……[access full article]