Owners 'in pirate talks'
The Saudi owners of the Sirius Star are reportedly negotiating with pirate hijackers despite British and Saudi government pleas not to pay the ransom.
Chief engineer Peter French, from County Durham, and second officer James Grady, from Strathclyde, are among 25 people being held on the ship.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband said payments are "only an encouragement to further hostage-taking".