THE four crew members taken hostage from the reefer boxship Sierra Leyre off the coast of Nigeria earlier this month have been released, according to the ship’s owner Seatrade.

Sierra Leyre, a Bahamas-flagged vessel, was attacked by pirates off Onne, Nigeria, on February 9 on its way to Port Harcourt from Nouadhibou in Mauritania, when it broadcasted a distress signal.

According to a Lloyd’s List Intelligence correspondent, 10 assailants attempted to board the vessel, however, only half were successful but managed to kidnap four crew.

The crew were held in captivity in the Niger Delta.

In a statement, reefer specialist Seatrade said that the crew were released yesterday, February 29, and that the vessel has since been moved to a ‘safe position’. 

Read more at Lloydslist