Somali pirates capture Greek cargo ship with 16 Filipinos

Agence France-Presse, Inquirer.net
Posted date: November 30, 2009

ATHENS – At least 16 Filipinos were among the 28 crew members on board a Greek cargo ship that Somali pirates hijacked in the Indian Ocean on Sunday, the latest in an increasing spate of such attacks in the region, Greek port police said.

The captain of the Maran Centauros cargo told Greek authorities by telephone that nine armed pirates came on board and directed the ship toward Somali waters, according to police.

All crew members on the Greek-flagged ship were in good condition, the captain told authorities. Aside from the Filipinos, the crew included nine Greeks, two Ukrainians and one Romanian.

Initial reports indicated the ship had left from Kuwait and was headed for the United States.

With the end of monsoon season last month, Somali pirates have resumed hijackings, attacking foreign merchant and fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean.

They have shifted their attention from the Gulf of Aden, where international naval forces have deployed to protect shipping there.