Where there is sea, there are pirates, Part 4

The crew of a Danish cargo ship was finally released today, after being hijacked and held hostage by Somali pirates since early June. The ship, called the Danica White, was pursued by a U.S. Navy warship. However, the pirates navigated out of international waters and into Somalian waters. The pirates had demanded $1.5 million, however it is unclear whether the ransom was exchanged.

The Danica White had been carrying shipping supplies (1,000 tons) from Dubai to the Kenyan port of Mombasa. Somalia, which is located in the horn of Eastern Africa, has had no official government since 1991, and most of the ransom funds are thought to arm local militias. The International Maritime Bureau has declared the Somalia coast to be one one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the world.

Sources: BBC, Hunt of the Sea Wolves (blog), Reuters,
Also See: Where there is sea, there are pirates, parts 1, 2, and 3