Daily Maritime News at www.ufs.com.ph

Over 50 Filipino seafarers still being held captive by pirates
MOGADISHU –– At least 50 Filipino crewmen on board dozens of ships held by Somali pirates are still in captivity almost two years after their vessels had been hijacked on the Indian Ocean, and the actual count could be much higher.
Reuters on Monday released details of the vessels still in Somali pirates’ hands since late 2009 after they said at the weekend they had freed the Kuwaiti tanker MV Zirku. Read more at www.ufs.com.ph
Joint navy exercise reels off
COMBINED navy forces from the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the United States Navy is holding a 10-day annual combined exercise aimed to enhance interoperability and share best practices.
The combined exercise, dubbed Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) started Tuesday, June 14, and ends on Friday, June 24, is being held in Malacca Strait, Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea. Read more at www.ufs.com.ph
Somali pirates free tanker for $12M
MOGADISHU –– Somali pirates have freed a UAE-flagged, Kuwaiti-owned oil tanker after a $12-million ransom was paid, the pirates said.
The pirates announced the release of the 105,846 deadweight ton MV Zirku late on Friday, just three days after they said they had freed a Chinese-owned cargo vessel they had held for nearly seven months off the lawless Horn of Africa country. Read more at www.ufs.com.ph
Shipping Industry Summit Steers Into the Blue
In news from here in Athens, a unique event took place last week when world shipping industry leaders met to discuss how to take steps towards limiting their environmental footprint, creating a so called “bluer” shipping industry. The Mare Forum Blue Shipping Summit was definitely a big step in the right direction for shipping. Read more at www.ufs.com.ph
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