The gang which snatched the 37,800-dwt Cotton (built 2007) in an unprecedented attack less than 20 nautical miles north of Port Gentil, have released the ship and its Indian crew of 24, a representative of the owner confirms.
In a statementissued to TradeWinds, Geden said: “The master has confirmed that all 24 Indian crew members are safe and ingood condition.”
It says the piratesleft the ship in the early hours of this morning and the crew were able tocontact their families.
While Geden praisedthe work of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the Malta Flag Authorities, theinsurers and all other international agencies and governments, it did not sayif the ship’s cargo had been stolen.
The strike on the Cotton came close to the port of Gabon where the ship had loaded a part cargo of fuel oil and was waiting to load a second parcel when it was attacked.
As we reported experts fear the hit could mark a game changer in West African piracy give the hijacking came 200 nautical miles from any other recorded incident in recent history.
