Moscow based insurance company Renaissance has revealed that the hijackers of the freighter ‘Artic Sea’ had made demands for $1.8 million and had also threatened crew shootings and sinking the vessel.

The armed hijackers had gained access onboard by pretending to be stranded sailors. ”These people, after claiming that their boat was not working, boarded the Arctic Sea and, using the threat of arms, demanded that the crew follow all of their orders without condition,” said Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.

Vladimir Dushin, Vice-President for Security at Renaissance, confirmed that the company received a call from en English speaker on August 3rd claiming to be a spokesperson for the hijackers. ”They informed us the ship had been seized and threatened to sink it in five days if the amount wasn’t paid,” he said. In the days following, the company assisted Russian security in providing information and contact with the hijackers.

The vessel was intercepted by Russian warship Ladny off the Cape Verde islands in West Africa on Monday after nearly 3 weeks, with no shots fired. Eight suspected hijackers of Latvian, Estonian and Russian origin have been detained by officials as they seek to apply kidnapping charges, pending a international jurisdiction debate.

With thanks to www.smh.com.au for the above information. For more details please refer to their website.