Somalia

Saudi tanker held by pirates

Article published on the 2008-11-18 Latest update 2008-11-18 17:53 TU

The Sirius Star (file photo)
(Photo: Reuters)

Pirates seized a Saudi-owned oil tanker, the Sirius Sea, on Sunday off the east Africa coast. The US Navy and the shipowner announced the hijacking on Monday, which is believed to be the largest vessel captured so far in continued piracy in the area.

The vessel was captured 450 miles east of Kenya with its 25 crewmembers which includes Croatian, British, Filippino, Polish and Saudi nationals.

A spokeswoman for the Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet has said the vessel is now on course for the port of Eyl on the Somali coast.

Correspondent Abdurrahman Warsameh says it is unlikely that naval forces in the area will intervene as the pirates already have control of the ship.

The European Union last week launched its first-ever naval mission, Operation Atlanta, which is being led by the UK. Increased piracy in the Gulf of Aden has led to the Norwegian shipping company Odfjell sending its ships via the Cape of Good Hope which is more expensive but safer.

Nato warships are also patrolling the Gulf of Aden but Saudi tanker was seized much further south.

Admiral Michael Mullen of the US military says the latest hijacking is of note because of the distance involved in taking the ship. He says it is the farthest out to sea that a ship has been seized in recent piracy.

The 318,000 deadweight tonne ship is three times the size of a US aircraft carrier.