Chinese ship released by pirates—EU

BRUSSELS—A Chinese warship escorted a Chinese freighter and its crew to a safe port on Thursday after they were released following seven months in captivity, European Union naval forces said.

“On the morning of the 8 June (Wednesday), it was confirmed that the MV Yuan Xiang had been released from pirate captivity after being held for 207 days,” said a statement.

“The vessel has a crew of 29 Chinese and is heading to a safe port.”

An EU Navfor spokesman told Agance France-Presse “we believe it is being escorted by a Chinese warship,” adding that the Chinese gave no further information either on the health of the crew or on whether a ransom was paid.

The ship was seized by pirates last November 13 approximately 650 nautical miles East of Salalah (Oman).

The ship being held for the longest time thus far is the Iceberg 1—carrying a Filipino, Yemeni, Pakistani, Ghanian, Indian and Sudanese crew—which remains in captivity after 437 days, the spokesman added.

The waters of the Arabian Sea, at the northern tip of the Indian Ocean, have seen hundreds of pirate attacks in recent years.