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Pirates seize vessel off Somalia Pirates seize vessel off Somalia
(about 5 hours later)
Pirates in the Gulf of Aden have seized a Greek-owned cargo ship.Pirates in the Gulf of Aden have seized a Greek-owned cargo ship.
The BBC's Jonah Fisher, on board a nearby UK naval vessel, said the captain of the MV Saldanha radioed that pirates had boarded his ship.The BBC's Jonah Fisher, on board a nearby UK naval vessel, said the captain of the MV Saldanha radioed that pirates had boarded his ship.
The pirates had ordered the captain to warn the British warship, the HMS Northumberland, to stay away.The pirates had ordered the captain to warn the British warship, the HMS Northumberland, to stay away.
The HMS Northumberland is part of an EU task force patrolling the waters off the unstable Horn of Africa to deter pirate attacks. The British vessel is part of an EU task force patrolling the waters off the unstable Horn of Africa to deter pirate attacks.
It was around 100km (60 miles) from the cargo ship when it was hijacked. The warship was around 100km (60 miles) from the Saldanha, reportedly sailing under a Maltese flag, when the cargo ship was hijacked.
The Greek merchant marine ministry confirmed the Saldanha was seized, adding that the ship was manned by a 22-strong crew, Reuters news agency reported.
The ministry said the ship was loaded with coal and was heading to Slovenia, Reuters said.
Rising tide
Pirates from Somalia target merchant ships sailing through the busy Gulf of Aden, which connects Europe and Asia.Pirates from Somalia target merchant ships sailing through the busy Gulf of Aden, which connects Europe and Asia.
The International Maritime Bureau has issued a warning to shipping that the risk from piracy off the coast of Somalia was rising again, after the number of pirate seizures dropped off at the end of last year. Greek ships have found themselves in the pirates' sights before, with a ship carrying salt to Kenya seized off Somali waters in September 2008.
The MV Genius and all of its 19 crew were released in November.
The International Maritime Bureau has issued a warning to shipping recently, saying that the risk from piracy off the coast of Somalia was rising again, after the number of pirate seizures dropped off at the end of last year.
The bureau's reporting centre in Kuala Lumpur says six ships were attacked last week, but all managed to escape.The bureau's reporting centre in Kuala Lumpur says six ships were attacked last week, but all managed to escape.
The bureau blamed the heightened risk on more favourable weather and the temptation for pirates to target more ships for ransom, after recently releasing a number of hijacked vessels.The bureau blamed the heightened risk on more favourable weather and the temptation for pirates to target more ships for ransom, after recently releasing a number of hijacked vessels.