ATHENS, Greece, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Somali pirates have freed a Greek-owned cargo ship they captured during the weekend, the vessel's owners said Monday.
The MV Lugela, sailing under the Panamanian flag, was heading for Mauritius with a load of steel bars and wires and a crew of 12 Ukrainians, the Athens News Agency reported.
The freighter sent a distress call to the headquarters of owners TDM Carriers Ltd. Saturday as Somali pirates attacked after it passed through the Gulf of Aden. The ship then set course for Somalia.
The vessel was in the Somali basin, about 900 miles east of the pirate den of Eyl, at the time.
A TDM spokesman said the ship's captain contacted the company late Sunday night to say the pirates had abandoned the vessel and the crew were all well.
The Lugela has resumed its journey to Mauritius, the spokesman added.
The European Union's naval force in Somalia said it is monitoring the situation.
