DENMARK: The crew of a Danish ship hijacked by Somali have been released after a ransom was paid

A Danish cargo ship and its crew that were hijacked by Somali pirates in June have been released after 83 days in captivity after a ransom was paid, the Danish Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday (August 22). The MV Danica White and its five Danish crew members were carrying building materials from Dubai to Kenya when it was seized off Somalia in the world's most dangerous waterway on June 1. Danish media reported security firm Protocols had said they had paid a ransom of $1.5 million for the ship and its crew. "It is a great relief for all of us especially the families and of course the crew," the Danish Foreign Ministry's head of citizen services Lars Thuesen told Reuters. The Foreign Ministry said the crew, consisting of a captain, a navigator, a first mate and two less experienced sailors were in good health considering the circumstances but had been threatened by the armed pirates. "It's been a terrible experience for the hostages, being held for more than 80 days not knowing what was going on. We have talked to the crew and they are feeling OK at this point. But it been a dreadful experience for all of them," Foreign Ministry's head of citizen services Lars Thuesen told Reuters. After being freed, the The Danica White headed for Djibouti about three days away, escorted by the French corvette Blaison. The crew will fly from there to be reunited with their families.

ITN Source | August 23, 2007

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