Somali pirates hijacked 49 foreign ships in 2010: Govt

Forty nine ships carrying foreign flags were hijacked by Somali pirates from the international waters of the Indian Ocean in 2010, including 38 Indians, were on board, Parliament was informed on Thursday.

Forty nine ships carrying foreign flags were hijacked by Somali pirates from the international waters of the Indian Ocean in 2010, including 38 Indians, were on board, Parliament was informed on Thursday.

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Among these, four foreign-flagged ships - Iceberg-I, Rak Afrikana, Suez and Asphalt Venture, had Indian crew members onboard, shipping minister G K Vasan said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

He said that all the Indians have been reported safe and the ships' current reported position is Somali coast.

The government had said on Wednesday that 11 Indian sailors on Rak Afrikana have been released following "delicate" and "prolong" negotiations and were reported safe.

As per the government records, 53 Indians are still in the captivity following on Wednesday's release of Rak Afrikana crew members.