Piracy threatens shipping in Gulf of Aden

BREMEN, Germany, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A German ship owner who paid millions of dollars in ransom to Somali pirates says it's time for military intervention to protect shipping in the Gulf of Aden.

Niels Stolberg, 47, says the situation at the Horn of Africa is exploding and ships need protection as they pass the coasts of Somalia and Yemen, the German weekly Der Spiegel reports.

After holding Stolberg's "BBC Trinidad" and its crew for three weeks, Somali pirates released the ship once they received ransom money. They had threatened to blow up the ship, which was worth about $23 million, unless they were paid $8 million but reportedly settled for $2 million, Der Spiegel said.

At the time of its capture the "BBC Trinidad" was carrying pipes and other oil industry equipment from Texas to Oman.

A Chinese ship sailing within view of the German freighter warned the Trinidad's captain that suspicious-looking boats were following his ship.

The European Union is reported to be considering protection measures.