2010-01-03
www.chinaview.cn


Somali pirates hijack Singapore-flagged chemical tanker
LONDON, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- A Singapore-flagged chemical tanker was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on Friday, the European Union naval force (EU Navfor) said.

The 20,000 deadweight-ton M/V Pramoni was seized when it was heading to Kandla in India, the Northwood-based EU Navfor said in a statement. The ship has a crew of 24.

Three Turkish sailors aboard tank hijacked by Somali pirates
ANKARA, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Three Turkish sailors were among the 26 crew members on board a British-flagged tanker which was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, Turkish officials said on Thursday.

The 8,000-ton St James Park was seized by the pirates on Tuesday when the chemical tanker was sailing en route to Thailand from Spain, the officials were quoted as saying by the semi-official Anatolia news agency.

One more Greek freighter ship seized by Somali pirates
ATHENS, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Greek-owned Panama-flagged cargo ship was seized by Somali pirates as it was sailing off Seychelles' coast, it was announced on Tuesday by the Greek Coast Guard.

Navios Apollon, which belongs to Navios Maritime Partners, has a Greek captain and an 18-member crew of foreign seamen.

Somali pirates hijack UK ship, release another
NAIROBI, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Singaporean-flagged container ship was released by Somali pirates while a UK-flagged chemical tanker was hijacked, a regional maritime official confirmed on Tuesday.

Andrew Mwangura, East Africa coordinator of the Seafarers Assistance Program, said the MV Kota Wajar which was hijacked on Oct. 15 was released on Monday and is en route to Mombassa, east Kenya.

Somali pirates hijack Indian dhow with 13 crew
NAIROBI, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Somali pirates are holding an Indian dhow with 13 crew members after seizing it on Friday, a regional maritime official confirmed on Monday.

Andrew Mwangura, East Africa's Coordinator of Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP), said the gunmen seized MV Neseya off the coast of Kismayo in southern Somalia.

Somali pirates seize Panamanian cargo ship off Yemeni coast
SANAA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Interior Ministry said Friday that Somali pirates have seized a Panamanian cargo ship off southeast coast of Yemen at the Gulf of Aden.

The ministry said in a statement that the Panamanian-flagged ship called Red Sda Sbirt left Aden port late Thursday and was intercepted by the pirates after sailing about 36 nautical miles off the Yemeni port of Balhaf.

Somali pirates hijack ship with North Koreans
NAIROBI, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Armed Somali pirates have hijacked a chemical tanker with 28 North Koreans onboard in the latest attacks along the world's most dangerous waters, a regional maritime official said on Tuesday.

Andrew Mwangura, the coordinator of the East Africa Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP), said Kiribati flagged-MV Theresa VIII was seized on Monday 618 nautical miles North West of the Seychelles on its way to the Kenyan port of Mombasa.

Somali pirates seize Greek cargo ship
NAIROBI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Suspected Somali pirates are believed to have hijacked a Greek cargo ship early on Thursday with crew members from Ukrain and Philippine onboard .

Regional maritime official said Delvina was heading for the Kenyan port city of Mombasa from Mediterranean when it was captured 250 miles northwest of Madagascar.

Somali pirates hijack British yatch
NAIROBI, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Somali pirates have hijacked a yacht with two Brits on board, a regional maritime official confirmed on Tuesday.

Andrew Mwangura, the East Africa Coordinator of Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP), said the British couple was in a high-risk area for hijackings off Somalia when their yacht, the Lynn Rival, sent a distress signal.

Chinese company confirms 25 crew hijacked by pirates in Indian Ocean
QINGDAO, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese company confirmed Tuesday that 25 Chinese crewmembers were being held hostage by pirates in the Indian Ocean.

The bulk carrier De Xin Hai and its 25 crew were hijacked in the Indian Ocean around noon local time Monday.

Somali pirates hijack Singaporean ship
NAIROBI, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Somali pirates have seized a Singaporean-flagged container ship in the pirate-infested Indian Ocean waters near Seychelles, a regional maritime official confirmed here Thursday.

Andrew Mwangura, East Africa Coordinator of the Seafarers Assistance Programme said the vessel owned by box ship Kota Wajar was hijacked early Thursday with 21 crew members.

Somali pirates seize Spanish fishing vessel
NAIROBI. Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Somali pirates have hijacked a Spanish fishing boat in the dangerous waters of the Indian Ocean after a month of a lull of activity along the coast of the Horn of Africa nation, a regional maritime official confirmed on Friday.

Andrew Mwangura, the East Africa Coordinator of Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP), said the 100-meter MS Alakrana was seized early Friday by armed gunmen with 36 crew members on board.

Somali pirates seize German-owned ship with 11 Romanians aboard
NAIROBI, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Somalia pirates have hijacked a German-owned ship in the latest string of piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia, a regional maritime official confirmed on Wednesday.

Andrew Mwangura, East Africa Coordinator of Seafarers' Assistance Program (SAP) said the MV Victoria with 11 Romanian crew members aboard was seized in the pirate-infested waters on Tuesday.

U.S. destroyer arrives after Somali pirates hold American captain
NAIROBI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The USS Bainbridge on Thursday arrived where Somali pirates hijacked a Danish-owned, U.S.-operated cargo ship this week off the Horn of Africa, according to AP Radio.

Kevin Speers, a spokesman for the ship company Maersk, was quoted as saying that the U.S. destroyer reached the waters where the pirates were floating near the Maersk Alabama.

Somali pirates hijack Danish ship with 21 Americans on board
NAIROBI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Armed Somali pirates have hijacked a Danish-owned, U.S.-operated cargo ship in the latest piracy attack on foreign vessels off the coast of the Horn of Africa nation, a regional maritime group confirmed on Wednesday.

East Africa Coordinator of Seafarers' Assistance Programme (SAP) Andrew Mwangura said the 17,000-tonne Maersk Alabam was seized in the Indian Ocean 400 miles (about 650 km) off the war-ravaged Somali capital Mogadishu.

Two European-owned tankers hijacked off Somalia
BRUSSELS, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Two European owned chemical tankers have been hijacked by pirates off Somalia in the past two days, a European Union mission on fighting piracy in the Horn of Africa said on Thursday.

Pirates hijack German-owned ship with 13 crew
NAIROBI, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Somali pirates have hijacked a German-owned tanker in the Gulf of Aden with 13 crew members aboard, a regional maritime official confirmed on Thursday.

Andrew Mwangura, the East Africa's Coordinator of Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP) said the Bahamas-flagged MV Longchamp was seized early Thursday with 12 Filipinos and one Indonesian.