CONCLUSION TO PIRATED VESSEL EPISODE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 003101 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2016 TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL RP SO AE SUBJECT: CONCLUSION TO PIRATED VESSEL EPISODE REF: ABU DHABI 2133 Classified by Charge d'Affaires Martin Quinn, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) Reftel noted the Philippines Ambassador to the UAE's concerns about the safety of the 20-member Filipino crew of a UAE-based vessel, the M/T Lin 1, which was at the time in the hands of Somali pirates. We now understand, from Philippines Ambassador Libran Cabactulan and media reports that the ship and crew have been released and are on their way to their home port of Fujairah in the UAE. The Ambassador had no details of the terms of the vessel's release, but his understanding was that the crew was in good health and making its way slowly (due to choppy seas) towards the UAE coast. ¶2. (SBU) The Panamanian-flagged tanker The M/T Lin 1, owned and operated by Akron Trade and Transport (a Fujairah Free Zone Company),was held by pirates off the Somali coast from March 29 through July 15. Ransom was demanded. Negotiations for the release of the ship were reportedly conducted by the vessel's owners in Somalia and Nairobi, but we are not aware of further details. ¶3. (C) Comment: Further U.S. interest in this case may focus on possible debriefing of the crew by coalition maritime forces to ascertain what might be learned of the pirates' modes of operation and possible future intentions. End comment. QUINN