Somali pirates want $8m to free 3 ships

Somali pirates are demanding a ransom of $8.2 million to free two Malaysian tankers and a Japanese-managed bulk carrier that they hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, a maritime official said yesterday.

Gunmen from Somalia have seized at least 30 vessels so far this year, making the waters off the Horn of Africa nation the most dangerous in the world. Yesterday, the Malaysian vessels' owner ordered the rest of its fleet not to enter the area.

Andrew Mwangura, head of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Program, said the pirates wanted $4.7 million to release the Bunga Melati 5 and its sister ship, the Bunga Melati Dua, which are both owned by Malaysian national carrier MISC.