Pirates hijack Chinese ship
- Source: Global Times
- [14:39 October 20 2009]
- Comments
By Kang Juan
A Chinese bulk carrier was hijacked in the Indian Ocean on Monday, 1,080 nautical miles from a rendezvous with a Chinese naval fleet patrolling the waters of the Gulf of Aden off Somalia, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
China's Ministry of Transport said on Monday that relevant governmental agencies were engaged in rescue efforts of the carrier.
The ship, Dexinhai, carrying coal, was hijacked with 25 Chinese sailors aboard. The ship belongs to Qingdao Ocean Shipping Co, which reported the incident to the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center at 3:50 pm Beijing time. The company lost contact with the carrier at 4:35 pm.
The ship was en route from South Africa to India. John Harbour, spokesperson of the EU naval force, told Xinhua by phone that the bulk carrier was hijacked 550 nautical miles northeast of the Seychelles and 700 nautical miles off the east coast of Somalia.
An EU NAVFOR maritine patrol aircraft located the ship and reported pirates onboard, as well as skiffs used in pirate attacks, Harbour said.
He added that it was unclear where the carrier was heading when it was hijacked. He said that the commander of the EU naval force is monitoring the situation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday issued a notice reminding Chinese ships and personnel to stay away from the Seychelles.
"The areas north of the Seychelles have seen increasing activity by pirates recently," the notice said. "Chinese ships and personnel should not go near the Indian Ocean waters 1,000 nautical miles off the east coast of Somalia, and 350 nautical miles north of the Seychelles, in order to avoid similar incidents."
Since last year, a flotilla of foreign warships has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden, one of the busiest maritime trade routes in the world, prompting pirates to operate far out in the Indian Ocean.
Experts had warned in recent days that subsiding winds near the Seychelles had attracted pirates, who generally launch attacks from so-called mother ships with tiny skiffs.
A total of 146 hostages have been captured by pirates in the last few months, according to Harbour.
Agencies contributed to this story
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