Hijackers release oil tanker with Singaporean on board

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http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/hijackers-release-oil-tanker-singaporean-board

A hijacked oil tanker carrying 21 sailors, including a Singaporean, was released yesterday, a week after it had been seized by pirates in waters off West Africa, said Seoul’s Foreign Ministry. 

AFP reported the ministry as saying all the sailors were unhurt.

Responding to queries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Singaporean crew member on board the vessel is safe and added that it had been in touch with his family.

The 3,200-tonne MT Hai Soon was carrying Singaporean cargo officer Yeo Eu Loone, 38, a South Korean captain and chief engineer, 12 Chinese and six Myanmar nationals.

The tanker, which was supplying oil to vessels off the coast of West Africa, was taken by 10 armed pirates off the southern coast of Ghana on July 26.

Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said the ship was released in waters off Nigeria yesterday, but did not say whether a ransom had been paid.

Yonhap news agency said the hijacking seemed to have been aimed at stealing fuel.