Japanese-operated vessel freed by pirates - EU

Feb 28, 2011 3:04pm GMT
LONDON Feb 28 (Reuters) - Pirates have released a Japanese-operated cargo ship hijacked last October off Kenya, the European Union anti-piracy force said on Monday.
The EU Navfor force said in a statement the Izumi, operated by NYK-Hinode Line, was released from pirate control on Feb. 25.
It said the Panama-flagged vessel and its Filipino crew of 20 were believed to be making for a safe port, adding that it had no information on the condition of the vessel or the crew.
The 14,000-dwt Izumi had been on route to Mombasa in Kenya carrying a cargo of steel. The Kenya-based East African Seafarers Association said last October Somali pirates had seized the vessel.
Earlier on Monday, EU Navfor said pirates had seized the Greek-owned bulk carrier Dover in the North Arabian sea about 260 miles northeast of Salalah in Oman, taking the 23-strong crew hostage. (Reporting by Tim Castle; editing by Andrew Dobbie, Thomson Reuters)