Somali pirates hijack Indian commercial ship, 11 sailors on board

Pirates have hijacked a Indian commercial ship off the coast of Somalia and the vessel is heading toward the shore, a former government anti-piracy official told Reuters

A private anti-piracy investigator says 11 Indian sailors on small boat have been hijacked off Somalia’s coast, the latest vessel targeted by the region’s resurgent pirates.

Pirates have hijacked a Indian commercial ship off the coast of Somalia. (File photo/For Representational Purpose)

Graeme Gibbon Brooks of Dryad Maritime told The Associated Press today that the hijackers want a ransom for the crew.

Brooks said the vessel was being taken to the Eyl area of northern Somalia. He said the vessel initially was heading from Dubai to Bosaso, Somalia.

Lt Ian McConnaughey, a spokesman for the US Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, said sailors there are “aware of the reports and we are monitoring the situation.” The 5th Fleet oversees regional anti-piracy efforts.

In March, Somali pirates hijacked the Comoros-flagged tanker Aris 13, marking the first such seizure of a large commercial vessel since 2012.