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Apr 21, 2010
Pirates seize Liberian ship



The 183 metre-long carrier, which was on its way from the United Arab Emirates to the Suez Canal, was captured as it headed towards the protected transit corridor in the Gulf of Aden. -- PHOTO: AFP

NAIROBI (Kenya) - PIRATES seized a Liberian-owned bulk carrier with 21 Filipino crew in the Gulf of Aden early Wednesday, the European Union's naval force in the region said. The Voc Daisy 'was able to raise the alarm before the four armed pirates, carrying three AK47s (assault rifles) and one RPG (rocket propelled grenade), stormed onboard and cut their lines of communication,' EUNAVFOR said.

The attack took place 190 nautical miles (352 km) east of Salalah, Oman. EUNAVFOR said it was monitoring the situation and said the crew were safe. The 183 metre-long carrier, which was on its way from the United Arab Emirates to the Suez Canal, was captured as it headed towards the protected transit corridor in the Gulf of Aden.

On Tuesday, pirates captured 77 Thai fishermen in three boats some 2,222 km from the coast of Somalia, the first time the pirates have struck so far east into the Indian Ocean. Since 2008, an international flotilla of warships has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden, one of the globe's busiest maritime trade routes, in a bid to stop the hijackings. Their presence has forced pirates to the un-patrolled further reaches of the Indian Ocean, helped by the relatively calm seas which accompany the end of the monsoon season. -- AFP