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Mogadishu, KOMPAS.com - Somali pirates have freed a chemical tanker and the crew of his North Korea Tuesday (16.3.2010) after holding the ship for four months, a maritime official said Tuesday.

Theresa VII 22,294 dead weight tons was arrested on 16 November last year in southern Somalia pond in the northwest of the Seychelles with 28 crew members on board.

Abdrew Mwangura of Seafarers' Assistance Program in East Africa based in Kenya said the ship was freed after a ransom of about 3.5 million U.S. dollars paid. "Theresa VIII and all 28 crew members of his North Korea now has free," said Mwangura.

The gangs have been disturbing marine Somalia palayaran busy route off the coast of Somalia for several years to get millions of dollars in ransom money from most of the captured ship.

Somali pirates taking responsibility for more than half of the 406 incidents reported in 2009. They have hijacked 47 ships and 867 crew members taken hostage, according to the International Maritime Bureau.

Most of the ship and crew was released unharmed after a ransom is paid, although some fishermen were injured in the hijacking and the others had health problems after a period of protracted hostage off the Somali coast.