The22,000-dwt Free Goddess(built 1985) was reported released late on Thursday after eight months incaptivity.

AReuters report quoting a pirate inGarad called Mohamed said the hijackers received $5.7m to release the handysizebulker.

AnAssociated Press report from Mogadishu quoted another pirate,Bile Hussein, as saying the pirates received only $2.3m.

Husseinsaid the pirates initially wanted to be paid $9m after they captured the FreeGoddess in early February 2012.

“Monthsof