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Tanker Liquid Velvet released by Somali Pirates

The oil and chemical tanker MT Liquid Velvet, hijacked by Somali pirates on October 31, 2011 was released from captivity on June 4, 2012. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Raul Hernandez said on Friday the Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-owned tanker has a full crew of 21 Filipino seafarers on board. The families of the crew members were already informed by the local manning agency about this development, Hernandez said. The vessel is already sailing toward Salalah, Oman. The DFA has instructed the Philippine Embassy in Muscat to provide assistance to the crew members once the vessel docks at the Port of Salalah. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/261156/pinoyabroad/news/dfa-exec-oil-tanker-with-21-pinoy-crew-members-released-by-pirates

Fight over ransom

Somali pirates who captured a the "Liquid Velvet" are fighting over ransom. The Ilaalo group, the security detail guarding the "Liquid Velvet", refused to take orders from their seniors. The conflict was a serious one related to ransom negotiations, but now it turned physical. The conflict reportedly occurred over the last few days when they failed to agree upon the desired amount of ransom. On December 19 2011, the pirates demanded $8 million as ransom. The negotiations were already at an advanced stage before a rift emerged among the pirates — between the investors and the pirates who are on the ship. The pirates aboard the vessel were open to any amount of ransom offered by the owner of the ship but the investors were demanding at least $8 million in ransom. The leader of the hijacking group is Aw-kowbe, a well-known pirate from Bari region. The Ilaalo group prevented the investors from accessing the hijacked ship and disregarded their orders on Feb 3, 2012. After the pirates hijacked the vessel, they moved it to the Somali coastline, where the hijackers turned over the vessel to another group of pirates, called the Ilaalo, who serve as guards. The Ilaalo group does not have the power to negotiate.