Somali pirate couple freed

[bramblebooks]

Now that is what I call good news. I hadn't heard anything and had feared the worst. I wonder what went on in the background to get them released?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Great news!

[franke]

Only a few agencies picking up on it so far. I suppose the bbc are verifying before reporting it. I really hope it's true, such an awful ordeal they've been through.

[ElspethDiggory]

I thought this would never happen. What an amazing Christmas their family will have. Great news to get up to, thanks for posting bramblebooks

[franke]

More info here

[notjustapotforsoup]

It's brilliant news.

And before anyone starts, they were 60 miles from the Seychelles when they were captured NOT having a jaunt along the coast of Somalia. <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.sail-world.com/photos/Med_Chandler%2520route%2520map1.jpg&imgrefurl=www.sail-world.com/CruisingAus/No-turkey-Christmas-for-kidnapped-sailors/64708&usg=__ESY4QKi20eBP56Uq8qG8p5eLOQU=&h=371&w=500&sz=68&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=fbWMQLIk8sOwEM:&tbnh=153&tbnw=220&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchandlers%2Broute%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DCkD%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26prmdo%3D1%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D619%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=357&vpy=92&dur=7245&hovh=193&hovw=261&tx=135&ty=152&oei=NZnfTNDZMIyDswbM6rTYCw&page=1&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">route Just thought I'd get that in before the debate started

[franke]

and apparently, notjust, there was a Navy vessel close by that watched it all happen, but did nothing. Allegedly.

[notjustapotforsoup]

I know, because they didn't have any orders to assist. Tbf, there would have been a high chance of them being killed in any operation.

Been following their story closely because I am a (almost) life-long sailor and, selfishly, my parents have the same type of boat as the Chandlers and are doing something similar to what they did in their retirement. Although heading west instead.

[sailorsgal]

franke, actually it was an RFA ship, Royal fleet auxilliary if you didn't know what it stands for. It is manned by civilians. They do look like naval ships.

Just to set the record straight

Great that they have been released.

[gorionine]

Fantastic news. Last time I saw something about them on TV I feared the worst.

[franke]

Thanks sailorsgal, I didn't know that. And I should have said, they did nothing because they were told not to. I did know that, I just came over all inflammatory - call it a Daily Mail moment .

[sailorsgal]

franke, thats ok, dh was seething when it was all over the daily mail.

[bramblebooks]

Thanks for the link franke.

[ShanahansRevenge]

Oh I was thinking of them last week! I can still see them in my mind....so glad for them and their family!

[goingroundthebend4]

Wow what a Xmas prsrnts for their familys

[ilovemydogandMrObama]

Amazing. While I don't think that the Somali government had anything to do with the kidnap, if I was in their position, think I'd want to get out of the country asap, rather than a shower at the governor's house.

[hocuspontas]

Fantastic news.

[phipps]

A gun was being pointed at Paul Chandler's head so a sniper couldn't take the shot.

They were 600 nautical miles away from Somalia and had obviously tried to stay safe.

It is fabulous news and I hope they have a very merry Christmas.

Some idiot did announce they were released while the super injunction was in place and he is lucky it didn't have an adverse effect on their release.

[franke]

Yes I wonder why CNN chose to ignore the injunction.

It's wonderful to see them free, but I hope they now get the support they need to start to come to terms with this.

[MollieO]

USD 1 million ransom paid. Very cheap by comparision to what pirates usually get. Very pleased for them but we also need to give some thought to the other 300 or so crew still being held by pirates. Having said that the Chandlers were held for the longest period out of any crew taken hostage by Somali pirates.

Pirates have been reported at 1400 nm off the Somalia coast this autumn.

[POFAKKEDDthechair]

they said there was no ransom paid? who paid it?

[MollieO]

Friends and family, exiled Somalians, well wishers etc here

[Nancy66]

I wonder where they'll be off to for their next ill advised holiday - backpacking through Afghanistan perhaps?

[POFAKKEDDthechair]

To be fair they were 600 nautical miles away from the coast of Somalia, which is about 900 [?] ordinary miles...

[MollieO]

Nancy66 I assume you are joking or are you trying to imply the Chandlers put themselves in danger?

[Nancy66]

I'm not implying it I'm stating it.

They sailed in notoriously dangerous waters when they were advised against it.