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Romanian Sailors Aboard Pirate-Seized Italian Ship Buccaneer Were Released -Foreign Min

The five Romanian sailors aboard Italian ship Buccaneer, seized by Somali pirates on April 11 in the Gulf of Aden, were released Monday morning and will soon return home, Romania’s foreign affairs minister Cristian Diaconescu said Monday.
Romanian Sailors Aboard Pirate-Seized Italian Ship Buccaneer Were Released -Foreign Min
10 aug. 2009, 11:24, English

Diaconescu stressed the five sailors, aged 28 to 35, are in good health, adding Romania’s Embassy in Italy was permanently in contact with their families. 

He also said he is very happy that the rescue operation was successful and also thanked the Italian authorities for their efforts in this respect.

Asked whether ransom was paid for the release of sailors, the minister said all rescue operations were conducted by the ship’s owners, stressing this is the reason why Italy and Romania were not involved directly on the matter.

Furthermore, he said there currently isn’t any other Romanian sailor in the hands of Somali pirates.

Four of the five Romanian sailors, namely Nicusor Marinescu (engineer), Adrian Gilca (helmsman), George Dorel (mechanic) and Marius Aragea (engine mechanic) are from southeastern city of Constanta, while the fifth is from Buzuresti locality.

Italian tugboat Buccaneer, with a crew of ten Italians, five Romanians and a Croatian, was seized by pirates on April 11 in the Gulf of Aden.