Somali pirates have released a Greek cargo ship captured two months ago after receiving a ransom, the EU's naval force announced on Sunday.

The Navios Apollon was seized in late December some 240 miles northeast of the Seychelles. The crew consisted of one Greek and 18 Philipinos.

"EU NAVFOR can now confirm that the Greek-owned Panama-flagged bulk carrier Navios Apollon that was hijacked on the 28 of December has been released this morning of 28 February," the EU's naval force, which escorts merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast, said in a statement.

The pirates released the ship and the crew after a ransom was air-dropped onto the vessel. All the crewmembers were safe, the statement said.

Pirates based in Somalia, which has been without an effective government since 1991, hijacked more than 35 vessels in 2009, and have already seized two this year.

MOSCOW, February 28 (RIA Novosti)