Somali pirates free Liberian-flagged tanker

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Somali pirates have freed a Liberian-flagged chemical tanker after a ransom was dropped onto its deck, a regional maritime official said on Saturday.

The MT Biscaglia had 30 crew on board: 25 Indians, three Britons and two Bangladeshis. It was hijacked on November 28.

"She is now sailing out to sea from Somalia ... the vessel was released following a ransom by air-drop," said Andrew Mwangura, coordinator of Kenyan-based regional maritime group the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme.

No other details were immediately available.

Gunmen from Somalia caused havoc in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes last year, hijacking dozens of ships and making tens of millions of dollars in ransom payments.

The attacks have raised insurance costs, prompted some owners to go round South Africa instead of via the Suez Canal and triggered an unprecedented deployment by foreign navies.