VOA标准英语2009年-Somali Pirates Release South Pacific Sailo
时间：2019-01-14 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2009年(八月)
Twelve South Pacific islanders taken hostage by Somali pirates earlier this year have been released. The men were seized off the east African coast and have been set free after their employer reportedly paid a ransom 1.
A pirate taking a stroll on shore in Hobyo, Somalia, (file photo)
Eleven crew members from the tiny South Pacific nation of Tuvalu and one from Fiji were abducted 2 off the Horn of Africa in early April. They were captured along with sailors from Ukraine and Germany.
The kidnapping was part of a series of attacks on foreign vessels 4 by well-armed Somali gunmen. The pirates reportedly demanded a ransom of $15 million. There are reports that the owners of the German vessel 3, the Hansa Stavanger, paid about $2.5 million in ransom, although the company has not confirmed this.
The plight 5 of sailors caused immense anxiety in Tuvalu, an isolated 6 nation of just 12,000 people in the Pacific Ocean north of Fiji.
About 40 percent of Tuvaluan men work on overseas freighters and their wages provide valuable income for their families back home.
Reverend Tafue Lusama, a Tuvalu clergyman, says there will be great relief that the men are on the way home.
"They have been held for around five months now and that is a very long time for our people to be held hostage. In the past five months our country - everyone in our country - has been on their toes praying and hoping and doing everything possible to get them released. Now they are being released, I just simply thank God for that," said Lusama.
There have been more than 130 pirate attacks on foreign ships off the Somali coast this year despite increased patrols by various international governments, including the United States, France and Australia.
It is unclear how much ransom money has been paid by shipping 7 companies to free abducted crews and seized vessels.
Negotiations 8 are often carried out in secrecy 9 to avoid compromising the safety of hostages.
In Tuvalu, large celebrations are expected to greet the sailors when they return to their homes.
- We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
- The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。
- Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that she was abducted. 侦探尚未排除她被绑架的可能性。
- The kid was abducted at the gate of kindergarten. 那小孩在幼儿园大门口被绑架走了。
- The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
- You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。
- The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
- She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。
- His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
- Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。
- We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
- There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。
- negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
- Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。