Pirates, a yacht and a different outcome

Seven Danes hijacked by Somali pirates nearly a week ago have reportedly reached the mainland in Puntland, Somalia. A pirate called Muse Abdi told The Associated Press that the hostages had been transferred to another vessel moored just off the beach.

A ransom demand will soon be issued and negotiations will begin.

On average hostages, who usually seized from commercial ships, are held for around six months although when a private British couple were kidnapped their ordeal lasted more than a year before a $1 million ransom secured their release in November.

Jan Quist and Birgit Marie Johansen, their three children aged 12-16 and two crewmembers were just a few months from completing their two-year journey of a lifetime when the pirates attacked last Thursday.

Their kidnapping came just days after Somali pirates seized four Americans aboard their yacht Quest. The US Navy sent four warships to shadow that pirated vessel and started negotiations in a bid to prevent the pirates taking their captives ashore. Something went wrong and, according the US military, the pirates killed all of their hostages.

The Danish navy has also been shadowing their captured nationals but seems to have decided not to intervene. Although the seven hostages now face some horrific months they are, at least, alive. A better outcome for now.