EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

The general cargo ship MV ASPHALT VENTURE was released from pirate control on 15^th April 2011. She had been under pirate control for 199 days.

The Panama flagged vessel, had been pirated on 28 September 2010 approximately 100 nautical miles South-East of DAR ES SALAAM in the Somali Basin, the vessel was on route to Durban when it was attacked. 

It is understood that 7 members of the original crew of 15 were not released with the vessel and that they are still being held in ashore in Somalia.  The other 8 crewmembers are taking the vessel to a safe port.