Somali pirates released a Panama-registered cargo ship they seized two months ago, after a ransom was air-dropped on to the vessel, maritime officials said on Sunday.The bulk carrier Navios Apollon was seized about 1 300km off the Somali coast north of the Seychelles, while sailing from the United States to India with a cargo of fertiliser.
Andrew Mwangura of the Kenya-based East Africa Seafarers' Assistance Programme said: "The last gunman disembarked from the ship last night. She is steaming out to safe waters."
An unspecified sum of money was air-dropped on to the ship as a ransom, maritime officials and members of the gang said.
All 19 members of the crew, one Greek and 18 Filipinos, were safe, Mwangura added. The vessel is managed by a Greek firm, Navios Ship Management.