Al Khaliq free

An Indian-owned bulker has been freed by Somali pirates after payment of a ransom, it has been confirmed.

The 36,700-dwt Al Khaliq (built 1984) was released on Tuesday afternoon, counter-piracy coordination force EU NAVFOR wrote in a statement.

There are no reports of any injuries to the Panama-flagged ship’s crew of 26 comprising 24 Indians and two Burmese.

“The marine tug 2,640-hp Alpha Pina (built 1976) from the owner is providing supplies to the ship. There is no help requested form EU NAVFOR,” Tuesday’s statement read.

It is possible that the Sierra Leone-flagged tug, owned by Alpha Logistics of Tanzania, was used to deliver the ransom which TradeWinds reported earlier on Tuesday is believed to have been $3.1m (Ransom paid to release bulker).

The SNP Shipping Services-owned Al Khaliq was seized in the Somali Basin on 22 October and has been held in the pirate stronghold of Haradhere in Puntland.

Early reports on Tuesday suggested pirates were preparing to leave a Panama-flagged ship after payment of a ransom. The only other such ship being held is the Greek 52,100 bulker Navios Apollon (built 2000). As this ship was only seized on 28 December it was always unlikely to be the ship up for imminent release.

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