Somali pirates release hijacked Iranian ship (ship w/ mystery cargo)

AFP ^

[nuconvert]

TEHRAN (AFP) — Pirates released an Iranian ship that had been hijacked off the Somali coast in August, state news agency IRNA reported on Friday.

"The ship Dianat was released on Friday morning after seven weeks of ... negotiations with Somali pirates," the state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines said in statement carried by the agency.

"All 29 members of the crew are safe and sound and

[nuconvert]

Pirates Die Strangely After Taking Iranian ship

“A tense standoff has developed in waters off Somalia over an Iranian merchant ship laden with a mysterious cargo that was hijacked by pirates. Somali pirates suffered skin burns, lost hair and fell gravely ill “within days” of boarding the MV Iran Deyanat. Some of them died.

Andrew Mwangura, the director of the East African Seafarers’ Assistance Programme, told the Sunday Times: “We don’t know exactly how many, but the information that I am getting is that some of them had died. There is something very wrong about that ship.”

The vessel’s declared cargo consists of “minerals” and “industrial products”. But officials involved in negotiations over the ship are convinced that it was sailing for Eritrea to deliver small arms and chemical weapons to Somalia’s Islamist rebels.”
http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Article.aspx?id=851953

[TigerLikesRooster]

Was there some indication that something more suspicious is aboard than garden-variety cargoes?

[nuconvert]

see post #2

[TigerLikesRooster]

OK, I got you. Must be some nuclear material. Pirates must have made good money.

[nuconvert]

There is speculation that some cargo was radioactive material, maybe yellowcake.

[stylin19a]

the pirates got sick but the crew didn’t ?

[Cicero]

So, does this stuff now go to African terrorists? Not a good outcome, if so.

[BallyBill]

The pirates got burned on that deal.

Argghhhh!

[nuconvert]

It’s suspected that some of the pirates tried to break into sealed containers and were exposed to the contents

[nuconvert]

It goes wherever the ship goes. I would think we’re keeping an eye on where it goes.

[doc1019]

Crew knew to stay away from cargo … pirates didn’t know better and their curiosity got the better of them?

[ALASKA]

Pirates must have made good money.

I bet they won't have long to spend it.............

[Joe Boucher]

“All 29 members of the crew are safe and sound”?
B.S.
These crew members like our kidnapped Iranian Embassy staff will never be the same nor feel safe nor sound again.
Where is the U.N. to police this kind of crap???????????

[Army Air Corps]

The plot sickens.

[Netizen]

Mystery cargo? I thought it was carrying 37 Ukraine tanks.

[RDTF]

wow

[nuconvert]

That’s a Ukraine ship carrying Russian tanks.
Lots of pirates around

[Jet Jaguar]

ping.

[Netizen]

LOL I didn’t realize there was more than one ship in the control of pirates. What’s UN been doing? Isn’t that their job, to patrol the high seas? /sarcasm