Medeshi Sept 18, 2008Pirates seize two more ships off Somalia
By Helen Nyambura-Mwaura
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Pirates from Somalia have hijacked a Greek ship and another from Hong Kong, each carrying 25 crew, a Kenyan maritime official said on Thursday.
Heavily-armed Somali pirates have hijacked more that 30 vessels off the Horn of Africa country this year, making its waters the most dangerous in the world.
Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme said the Greek ship, the Centauri, was heading for Kenya when it was seized on Wednesday off southern Somalia.
He told Reuters that gunmen captured the Great Creation, owned by Hong Kong's Sinotrans, early on Thursday.
Mwangura said the Centauri was now being taken towards Eyl, a lawless former fishing outpost on the Somali coast where gangs are holding several ships for ransom.
"The ship was expected to call at Mombasa on September 19 and discharge 17,000 tonnes of bulk salt," he said. "It was taken in southern Somalia, which is unusual for the pirates."
The Great Creation was travelling to India from Tunisia with 24 Chinese and a Sri Lankan on board when it was attacked.
There were no immediate details on the Greek ship's crew.
Somali pirates are holding 13 vessels captive at the moment, along with more than 200 sailors. Most of the gangs are based in northern Somalia's Puntland region, where security forces reportedly clashed with pirates on Thursday.
Local media said several pirates had been injured and others arrested during the gunfight on the outskirts of Bosasso port. No other details were immediately available.
Spain said on Wednesday that a military aircraft would patrol the waters off Somalia to guard against the gunmen. The plane will observe the pirates' movements and relay information to a European Union task force formed to tackle piracy.
By Helen Nyambura-Mwaura
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Pirates from Somalia have hijacked a Greek ship and another from Hong Kong, each carrying 25 crew, a Kenyan maritime official said on Thursday.
Heavily-armed Somali pirates have hijacked more that 30 vessels off the Horn of Africa country this year, making its waters the most dangerous in the world.
Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme said the Greek ship, the Centauri, was heading for Kenya when it was seized on Wednesday off southern Somalia.
He told Reuters that gunmen captured the Great Creation, owned by Hong Kong's Sinotrans, early on Thursday.
Mwangura said the Centauri was now being taken towards Eyl, a lawless former fishing outpost on the Somali coast where gangs are holding several ships for ransom.
"The ship was expected to call at Mombasa on September 19 and discharge 17,000 tonnes of bulk salt," he said. "It was taken in southern Somalia, which is unusual for the pirates."
The Great Creation was travelling to India from Tunisia with 24 Chinese and a Sri Lankan on board when it was attacked.
There were no immediate details on the Greek ship's crew.
Somali pirates are holding 13 vessels captive at the moment, along with more than 200 sailors. Most of the gangs are based in northern Somalia's Puntland region, where security forces reportedly clashed with pirates on Thursday.
Local media said several pirates had been injured and others arrested during the gunfight on the outskirts of Bosasso port. No other details were immediately available.
Spain said on Wednesday that a military aircraft would patrol the waters off Somalia to guard against the gunmen. The plane will observe the pirates' movements and relay information to a European Union task force formed to tackle piracy.
