Saudi tanker set for release 'within 72 hours' - report

RELEASE DATE: The Saudi super tanker, Sirius Star, is reportedly close to being released after a ransom deal was agreed with pirates.

Somali pirates are reportedly likely to release the Saudi supertanker Sirius Star within 72 hours since a ransom deal has been struck, a media report claimed on Tuesday.

“The negotiators on behalf of the owners of the Sirius Star have agreed to pay a ransom,” Abubakr Dari, one of the negotiators, said in comments published by the Saudi Gazette.

Representatives of Saudi Aramco subsidiary Vela International, which owns the supertanker, have been in contact with tribesmen and the pirates’ representatives in the Somali port of Harardhere.

Dari told the paper that the supertanker was anchored in Somalia’s Habio Port and that all the 25 crew members were well and even allowed to make phone calls to their relatives.

Yusuf Adso, secretary general of the Somali Foreign Ministry, added that while there was no certain information about a deal, "a massive effort involving a heavy presence of Somali tribesmen is being exerted to release the supertanker in the next few days".

Somali pirates captured the Sirius Star last month with two million barrels of crude oil on board.

The news comes the day after leading Middle East ship operators revealed they are in talks to station private armed security teams on board ships passing through the Gulf of Aden in a bid to combat the threat posed by pirates.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Implement CSI - Container Security Initiative
Posted by PRIF philbert Suresh, Mishref, Kuwait on Wednesday 17 December 2008 at 09:00 UAE time

It is high time that ports of the world and esp the ME region now that is so exposed to piracy take a serious look at CSI - to avoid head on challenges with a situation that has plagued the Gulf Waters for a century now.

tanker release
Posted by Leigh Vernier, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday 16 December 2008 at 15:28 UAE time

Is it not beyond the wit of the tanker negotiators to put one overthese dimwitted, drugged up pirates?
Example, conterfeit money?
Notes that have been treated with a disolver chemical?
Notes that will indelibly stain the hands of those pirates or others trying to circulate the money.

I bet these pirates are busy planning the heist of their next tanker.
After all, they're in one of the world's few high profit business sectors...

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