Mombasa: A Greek ship freed by Somali pirates arrived in the Kenyan port of Mombasa today, six days after being released by gunmen from the pirate lair of Harardhere, a maritime official said.

The Maltese-flagged MV Centauri, hijacked in September in the Indian Ocean, was released with its 26 Filipino mariners, but it was unclear if any ransom was paid.

"The ship is in Kenyan waters and all the crew members are safe. She is awaiting clearance before she starts discharging her cargo," said Andrew Mwangura, of the Kenyan chapter of the Seafarers Assistance Programme. The ship was carrying 17,000 tonnes of salt.

Pirates have defied foreign navies patrolling the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean to carry out brazen attacks on commercial shipping. The pirates are demanding a 25-million-dollar ransom for their biggest prize, the Saudi super-tanker Sirius Star, captured in mid-November with two million barrels of crude oil on board.

Source : PTI