Somali coasts still a major piracy danger.
By SwizStick • May 30th, 2007 • Category: UncategorizedAnd it’s simply going to get worse as shipowners continue shelling out big bucks in ransom demands to the pirates - it’s a cash cow for criminals and I am sure they are laughing all the way to the bank.
Andrew Mwangura, Coordinator of the Mombasa-based Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP), said the Mariam Queen was released after the owners paid 100,000 U.S. dollar ransom.
“The Mariam Queen has been released and is sailing towards Mogadishu to offload the cargo. We are told the owners paid 100, 000 U.S. dollars to secure its release,” Mwangura said by telephone from Mombasa.
“The pirates had earlier demanded 150,000 dollars as a ransom before the cargo ship’s release but this was later reduced to 100, 000 dollars,” said Mwangura.
This will only embolden pirates even more, as they can be assured of huge payouts through cargo piracy. With the Somalian government in continual crisis and virtual civil war, I expect piracy problems in Somalia to continue.
Stumble it!
Related Posts:
SwizStick is Co-Contributor
Email this author | All posts by SwizStick
© 2008