NAIROBI, Sept 11: Somali pirates have released a German-operated ship and a Japanese tanker that were seized last month, a Kenyan maritime organisation said on Thursday.

The German’s Antigua and Barbuda-flagged MV BBC Trinidad and Japanese MT Irene were seized on August 21 off the un-patrolled Somali coast, said Andrew Mwangura of the Kenyan branch of the Seafarers’ Assistance Programme.

“As of now, we have confirmed that the two ships have been released by the pirates,” he told AFP from the port town of Mombasa.

The MV BBC Trinidad, which was held in the northeastern Somali fishing village of Eyl, has a 13-member crew: a Slovenian captain, 10 Filipinos and two Russians.

“The pirates had asked for a ransom but I do not yet know whether it was paid or not,” Mwangura added.—AFP