KENYA: Somali pirates seize Chinese ship in Indian Ocean

Record ID: 361309

  • Title: KENYA: Somali pirates seize Chinese ship in Indian Ocean
  • Date: 20th October 2009
  • Summary: MOMBASA, KENYA (OCTOBER 19, 2009) (REUTERS) BOAT ON INDIAN OCEAN SHORE AND AN ANCHORED SHIP IN A DISTANCE SHIP BEING PUSHED BY A TUG BOAT TO DOCK (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANDREW MWANGURA, EAST AFRICA SEAFARERS' ASSOCIATION CO-ORDINATOR, SAYING: "Information reaching Mombasa this afternoon shows that pirates have taken away a Chinese flag bulk carrier with 25 chinese crew
  • Embargoed: 4th November 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA16GBKMDGL3KTW48G279SEL1ZD
  • Story Text: Somali pirates seize Chinese bulk carrier believed to be carrying fuel with 25 Chinese crew members on board.
    Somali pirates hijacked a Chinese bulk carrier with 25 Chinese crew seized in the Indian Ocean on Monday (October 19), East African Seafarers' Association Co-ordinator Andrew Mwangura said.
    One of the pirates told Reuters by telephone that the ship was carrying fuel and would be taken to a pirate stronghold north of the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
    "Information reaching Mombasa this afternoon shows that pirates have taken away a Chinese flag bulk carrier with 25 chinese crew members on board while underway in the Indian ocean, some 350 nautical miles north east of Seychelles or about 700 nautical miles away from Somalia. The vessel was taken away while underway in the Indian ocean and this brings to six ships held captive in Somalia with 157 hostages," said Mwangura.
    The European Union's counter-piracy force said earlier the vessel was seized 550 nautical miles northeast of the Seychelles and 700 nautical miles from the east coast of Somalia.
    An official of the naval force in Brussels said an EU maritime patrol aircraft had located the vessel.
    Somali pirate gangs have caused havoc in the strategic waterways linking Europe with Asia this year, even though foreign navies patrol the area, and have made millions of dollars in ransom payments.
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