Somali pirates have let go the seized Greek tanker Maran Centaurus after millions of dollars were paid in ransom, according to the information received in Nairobi on Monday.

The Piraeus-registered Maran Centaurus was seized on Nov. 29 with its 28 crew members on board, including Greeks, Filipinos and a Romanian.

The Greek vessel was traveling from Kuwait to the United States when it was hijacked off the eastern coast of Somalia.

Piracy has become rampant off the coast of Africa, especially in the waters near Somalia, which has been without an effective government since 1991.

Ransoms starting out in tens of thousands of dollars have climbed into millions.