"Talks about the ransom payment amount have just started," the source said, adding that no information was currently available on the amount of money that pirates sought to receive.
German company MarConsult Schiffahrt's multipurpose cargo vessel Marmalaita, sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, was attacked by pirates near Cameroon's Douala port on August 15.
The pirates abducted eight out of the total 12 crew members. The vessel itself was not seized and is still anchored in the port.
