But four men, thought to be from Sri Lanka,are missing, according to information from the UN secretariat for regional maritimesecurity cited by Roy Paul, head of the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian ResponseProgramme (MPHRP) charity.

The Malaysian vessel went down on 7 July, afterbeing held for nearly three years.

Pirates have reportedly shifted 11 men to thefishing boat Naham 3, which was beside the Albedo when it sank.

This vessel also has 29 crew on board fromChina, Indonesia, Cambodia, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines, plus four Thaifishermen and seven Indian seafarers still being held from other vessels.

The Albedo crew also includes seven Bangladeshisand seafarers from India, Iran and Pakistan.

The families of the men have released anotherplea to the pirates to free their loved ones.