SOMALIA - News that the German registered MV Victoria has finally been released by its Somali captors was obtained from an anonymous source within the German foreign ministry. In line with Government policy no further information regarding the condition of the crew or terms negotiated for the freeing of the men is being given to the media.
The owners, messrs. Intersee (site here) also made no comment after their eleven Romanian workers were returned by the Pirates who captured the vessel in May, shortly after the thieves took another German registered cargo carrier, the MV Hansa Stavanger in April. There is no furher news regarding that vessels fate.
The Gulf of Aden provides rich pickings for the pirates as it forms a corridor between the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea and many vessels are bound to use it. Officials of both Somali and Yemen, both of whom nominally control the Gulf waters have not commented on the situation.
