7 more Filipinos taken by Somali pirates

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Suspected Somali pirates seemed to have stepped up their hijacking activities as they took on Tuesday another ship with seven Filipino seamen, Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

In a text message, Crescente Relacion, executive director of DFA's Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, identified the ship as Hongkong-flagged and Iran-operated M/V Delight.

Citing reports from the Philippine embassy in Nairobi, Relacion said 25-crew ship was hijacked in Gulf of Aden last November 18.

"All crew members are reported unharmed. The incident brings to eight the number of hijacked vessels with Filipino crewmen and to 134 the number of Filipino seamen in Somali pirates' hands," he said.

Relacion said the DFA has instructed the Philippine embassies in Nairobi, Manama, and Tehran to coordinate with ship owners and international maritime authorities on efforts to secure safe release of crew and vessel.

The other seven ships with Filipino seamen held by the pirates are: M/T Centauri, hijacked September 17, with 26 Filipino seamen; M/T Captain Stefanos, September 21, with 17; M/T African Sanderling, October 15, with 21; M/T Stolt Strength, November 10, with 23; F/B Tianyu #8, November 14, with three; M/V Sirius Star, November 15, with 19; and M/V Chemstar Venus, November 16, with 18. - Veronica Uy, INQUIRER.net, November 20, 2008