Kenya : Somali pirates reach deal to release Ukrainian ship

Nairobi - Somali pirates holding a ship full of military hardware have reached a deal with the ships Ukrainian owners and have agreed to release it.

Gunmen seized the Kenya-bound MV Faina, carrying 33 tanks, grenade launchers and ammunition, on 24 September.

A pirate representative said releasing the ship was "a matter of time", but gave no details of a ransom payment.

The MV Faina, currently anchored off the pirate hub of Harardhere, has crew of 21 comprising mostly Ukrainians. Pirates had initially demanded a ransom of $20 million.

"It is just a matter of time and a few technicalities before the ship recovers its freedom," said Sugule Ali speaking on behalf of the pirates.

Kenya says the arms are destined for its military, rejecting reports they were bound for the government of semi-autonomous southern Sudan.

A regional maritime official Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Program said Sunday, negotiations for the release of the Ukrainian ship are at advanced stages.

He said negotiations for the release of the MV Faina have so far gone well and may culminate in the release of the vessel with military hardware this week.

"Negotiations have been finalised and what remains is a few modalities before the release of the vessel. It could be this week, probably on Tuesday," Mr Mwangura said on Sunday.

According to news reports from Somalia, the pirates said they are still grappling with a few modalities before the ship and her 17 member crew aboard are freed.

The MV Faina is currently moored off Somalia's coast close to the town of Hobyo.

Warships from Denmark, India, Malaysia, Russia, the United States and NATO are patrolling the vast international maritime corridor off Somalia, escorting some merchant ships and responding to distress calls.

This year there have been more than 90 attempts at capturing ships by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, 39 of which have been successful, according to maritime organisations. - BuaNews-NNN