Russian Renaissance Insurance received ransom demand
The hijackers of the Russian navy-rescued freighter Arctic Sea demanded a $1.5m ransom from the Renaissance Insurance, Bloomberg reports.
Renaissance had a call from a person speaking English and claiming to be an intermediary for the hijackers, said Vladimir Dushin, vice president for security at the Moscow-based insurer.
“They informed us the ship had been seized and threatened to sink it in five days if the amount wasn’t paid,” he said. The information was conveyed to Russian security officials. The Maltese-flagged ship was insured for $4m, he said. The insurer helped communicate with the hijackers in the following days, he said.
Russia is holding eight suspected hijackers.
