Somali pirates have released the hijacked cargo ship MV Filitsa after a ransom was paid. The Greek and Filipino crew are still on board the ship and are said to be unharmed.

Ransom money thought to be three million dollars was dropped onto the deck of the ship by helicopter. The pirates then fled in a sailing boat to the pirate stronghold of Hobyo.

The MV Filitsa was seized in November, in the Indian Ocean, far from the Somali coast. Somali pirates are still holding eleven other hijacked vessels.