Pirates have hijacked a British luxury yacht off the coast of Seychelles, the tour group that owns the boat reported on Thursday.
The ship's passengers had disembarked shortly before the attack Wednesday, said a spokeswoman for Aquatours on Thursday. However, the seven-member crew of the Indian Ocean Explorer was taken hostage.
The attack occurred near the Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean. The site, a Unesco world heritage site, is a favourite for divers and naturalists.
The ship was taken into Somali waters after the attack, said a spokesman with the International Maritime Bureau in London.
The group has noted a sharp spike in piracy incidents in the last month along the eastern coast of Somalia, with 15 successful hijacks in March, up from two in February and none in January.