After receiving a ransom of U.S. $1.5m Somali pirates released a Turkish Horizon-1 merchantman prized three months ago with 23 crew members.

October 6, 2009 the pirates released Turkish Horizon Maritime & Trade ship hijacked in July which was carrying 33.000 tons of brimstone from Saudi Arabia to Jordan, Reuters reports.

Presently the cargo ship is being escorted by a Turkish frigate to secure areas and the ship will continue its course to the Red Sea Aqaba port from where the crew members will be back to Turkey, ITAR-TASS reports.

It is worth mentioning that Somali pirates attacked more than 200 ships since the beginning of 2009. Thereupon, UN permits Somali waters patrolling by foreign naval ships.