Maltese-flagged Ariana crew replaced

The Ariana ship crew, released from the pirate captivity, went ashore at the Oman port Salalah. Sailors arrived in the port who will replace the Ariana crew. The new crew came aboard the Ariana ship and accepted the ship,

Ariana: docking at Salalah Oman

The Ariana, freed by pirates after a ransom was paid, and which then sailed over 800 miles from its place of capture, anchored at a roadstead at the Omani port of Salalah on Jan. 3, 2010. Currently, the ship is undergoing permit registration procedures in order to enter the Omani port. Alloceans Shipping Co Ltd (Greece) ,the company operating the vessel had paid a ransom of $2.8 million. Lomar, a subsidiary of the Libra Group, recently announced the acquisition of 26 modern ships belonging to Allocean, The purchase of the shares of Allocean Ltd and the Allocean Charters group of companies, both subsidiaries of Allco Finance Group, which entered administration and receivership in November last year. Based in New York, George Logothetis, age 34, has principal executive responsibility for the Libra Group. Lomar Shipping is the Logothetis family's London based shipping company. Alloceans Shipping Co Ltd was incorporated as a private limited company in Panama in 1971. Ariana is a Maltese-flagged ship.

Ariana: helicopter dropped $2.6 m onto its deck

"We've paid the ransom and we are waiting for the pirates to release the Ariana," Spyros Minas, head of Alloceans shipping, declining to disclose the amount of ransom paid.

Maltese-flagged Ariana and its 24 Ukrainian crew were seized on May 2 north of Madagascar en route to the Middle East from Brazil.

Earlier on Thursday, a pirate source that a helicopter had dropped $2.6 million (1.59 million pounds) onto its deck.

"We have taken a $2.6 million ransom to release the Greek ship," one of the gang, Farah, said by telephone. "We are now dividing the money and will disembark in the afternoon."

Ariana: Deep pockets may come to rescue

The ultimate interest in the maltese-flag Ariana IMO 8014150 has been in liquidation since 2008 due the subprime mortgage crisis, but the Logothetis family of Greece has picked up this fleet for a song -$325 million, thus making a release more likely.
The Logothetis family of Greece has re-entered the shipping sector with a big splash as Lomar Corporation announced a $325m purchase of the UK based Allocean fleet.
According to the announcement, the $325m deal involves the purchase of the shares of Allocean Ltd and the Allocean Charters group of companies, both subsidiaries of Allco Finance Group, which entered administration and receivership in November last year.
Lomar, a subsidiary of the Libra Group, announced the acquisition of 26 modern ships today belonging to Allocean, ending days of speculation over the sale of the ships.

The fleet comprises of bulk carriers, container ships, liquid petroleum gas (LPG) tankers, platform supply vessels (PSV), anchor handling tug supply vessels (AHTS), a chemical tanker and a products tanker.

The acquisition brings Lomar’s total fleet size to 32 owned and managed vessels including three newbuildings currently on order. The purchase of Allocean represents a major re-entry into ship ownership for Lomar following its sale of 67 ships from 2004-2006.

According to the announcement, the $325m deal involves the purchase of the shares of Allocean Ltd and the Allocean Charters group of companies, both subsidiaries of Allco Finance Group, which entered administration and receivership in November last year.
Alloceans Shipping Company Ltd (Greece)
ALLOCEAN SHIPPING (UK) LIMITED
Allco Finance Ltd.
Allco Finance Group Limited
Shipping - Allco own or manage 38 shipping vessels with another 23 on order.

Allco is now in liquidation, after previously being in administrative receivership, following difficulties in refinancing debt and a share price fall of 99% since the beginning of the subprime mortgage crisis.

Ariana: pirates and the subprime mortgage crisis.

The captain of MV ARIANA, has been apparently completely abandoned by the Greek owner as well as the Ukrainian government. Though rumours have been spread along the coast since many weeks and months that MV Ariana would be freed soon, right now her crew doesn't believe anything any longer - though information that a ransom payment was expected again within the next days is circulated. The Ukrainian crew with two women, of which one still would require medical evacuation, does not want to hear any false promises any more. 19-10-2009, online - following from open sources:
Alloceans Shipping Company Ltd (Greece)
ALLOCEAN SHIPPING (UK) LIMITED
Allco Finance Ltd.
Allco Finance Group Limited
Shipping - Allco own or manage 38 shipping vessels with another 23 on order.

The company is now in liquidation, after previously being in administrative receivership, following difficulties in refinancing debt and a share price fall of 99% since the beginning of the subprime mortgage crisis.

$3.5 million ransom for Malta-flagged Ariana

"We are just waiting for the money," said pirate Hassan of Haradheere. MV Ariana, IMO number :8014150, was seized on May 2 north of Madagascar en route to the Middle East from Brazil with 24 Ukrainian crew aboard. All Oceans shipping in Greece is the beneficial owner.

Maltese-flag Ariana seized by pirates at dawn

MV Ariana, was seized around dawn, carrying 35,000 tons of soya, about 250 nautical miles (287 miles) northwest of the Seychelles.
The crew members are Ukrainians and they are not believed to harmed.
MV ARIANA
IMO number :8014150
Call Sign :9HZS5
Gross tonnage :37955
Type of ship :Bulk Carrier
Year of build :1984
Flag :Malta


owner/agent Seven Seas Maritime Ltd. (SSM) London