Piracy - July 21
London, Jul 21 -- Fears are growing for the mental health of four seafarers from hijacked fully cellular containership Hansa Stavanger , who have been detained by pirates deep within Somali territory for several weeks while being subjected to death threats and other ill-treatment. The fate of the three Germans and one Russian national, some of whom are described by one source as "rapidly losing the plot", has been known in shipping security circles for several weeks, but with tacit agreement not to make it public. But the silence has now been broken, after German news magazine Der Spiegel reported on the case over the weekend. Rather than being held on board ship, as is the usual pirate practice, the hostages are at a location at least one hour inland from the Somali coast. One security specialist confirmed the details, saying that the men were being made an example of by a particularly vicious pirate faction, who were incensed after learning of an aborted attempt in May by Ge