The general cargo ship MV ASPHALT VENTURE was released from pirate control on 15th 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.