On 27 December 2009, the Bulk Carrier De Xin Hai from the Peoples Republicof China was released outside Hobyo off the coast of Somalia.
The crew and the ship are in good condition and were headed to safe port as of 27 December. The De Xin Hai, with a crew of 25 personnel was hijacked by a pirate group on 19 October 2009 in the Indian Ocean, 350 nautical miles North East of the Seychelles. With this release the number of ships hijacked is eight and the number of hostages is 213 personnel.