Ukrainian sailors from Marathon ship to arrive in Odesa on Friday, says foreign ministry

10:10

The crew of the Marathon, a ship recently freed by Somali pirates, will arrive in Odesa airport on Friday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service has reported.

The press service said that the sailors would travel to Ukraine via Paris and Istanbul.

The body of Serhiy Vartenkov, who was killed by pirates during the seizure of the ship, will be repatriated several days after an autopsy of his body is conducted and the cause of his death is finally investigated.

As reported, Somali pirates seized the Marathon, with a crew of eight Ukrainians on board, on May 7. The ship's welder, Serhiy Vartenkov, was killed during the seizure of the vessel, while cook Heorhiy Husakov was injured. The crew kept this information secret during talks with their families and the ship's owner on the orders of the pirates. The pirates released the ship on June 23.

03.07.2009