DUBAI: Somali pirates have released the MV Abdullah, a Bangladesh-flagged vessel, along with its 23-member crew following reports of a ransom payment, according to recent developments.
The MV Abdullah was en route from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrying coal when it was hijacked off Somalia’s coast approximately a month ago.
Although the pirates claimed to have received a $5 million ransom, this figure remains unverified by independent sources.
A surge in hijacking incidents has been observed off Somalia’s coast in recent months, with more than a dozen vessels targeted since late November.
Security analysts attribute this spike to a security void resulting from foreign naval forces shifting focus to the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthi rebel group has been launching attacks on ships.
According to estimates by the World Bank, pirate activities off the Horn of Africa between 2005 and 2012 yielded ransom payments ranging from $339 million to $413 million.
Reports from Reuters indicate that two pirates disclosed the $5 million ransom payment for the release of the MV Abdullah and its crew. One pirate, Abdirashiid Yusuf, mentioned verifying the authenticity of the money and subsequently departing while evading government forces.
The vessel’s owner, the KSRM Group, confirmed negotiations leading to the release of the vessel and crew. Mizanul Islam of SR Shipping, the group’s maritime arm, acknowledged striking a deal with the pirates but refrained from divulging further details regarding the ransom amount.
All crew members are reported to be safe and secure following the successful negotiation. The MV Abdullah has since resumed its journey to the UAE, escorted by two warships.
