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UK ship seized by Somali pirates Somali pirates seize Greek ship
(about 3 hours later)
A UK-owned ship, carrying 35,000 tons of soya, has been hijacked by Somali pirates south-west of the Seychelles, the Maritime Security Centre says. A Greek-owned ship has been hijacked by Somali pirates south-west of the Seychelles, a seafarers group says.
The crew were believed unharmed in the dawn attack, about 250 nautical miles (463km) from the Indian Ocean islands. The Ukrainian crew were believed unharmed in the night-time attack, about 250 nautical miles (463km) from the Indian Ocean islands.
It came hours after a Portuguese warship thwarted an attack on a Norwegian vessel in the Gulf of Aden.It came hours after a Portuguese warship thwarted an attack on a Norwegian vessel in the Gulf of Aden.
The warship, part of a Nato patrol, destroyed explosives they discovered when they captured the pirates.The warship, part of a Nato patrol, destroyed explosives they discovered when they captured the pirates.
The Portuguese warship, the Corte Real, sent a helicopter to help the oil tanker Kition after a distress call was made. The Greek ship, MV Ariana, said to be carrying 35,000 tons of soya, was sailing from the Middle East to Brazil, said Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme.
It is owned by a Greek company and managed by Seven Seas Maritime in London.
Distress call
In the earlier incident, the Portuguese warship, the Corte Real, sent a helicopter to help the oil tanker Kition after a distress call was made.
The incident happened about 100 miles (161km) from the Somali coast.The incident happened about 100 miles (161km) from the Somali coast.
Blast potential
The Portuguese helicopter chased the pirates back to their "mother ship", or command vessel, and briefly detained about 19 pirates, a Nato spokesman said.The Portuguese helicopter chased the pirates back to their "mother ship", or command vessel, and briefly detained about 19 pirates, a Nato spokesman said.
Explosives and grenade launchers were discovered on the mother ship when Portuguese special forces boarded "with no exchange of fire", Lt Cmdr Alexandre Santos Fernandes said.Explosives and grenade launchers were discovered on the mother ship when Portuguese special forces boarded "with no exchange of fire", Lt Cmdr Alexandre Santos Fernandes said.
"It was almost a kilogramme of high explosives. If used correctly it can open a hole in the hull of a ship and sink her," Lt Cmdr Fernandes said."It was almost a kilogramme of high explosives. If used correctly it can open a hole in the hull of a ship and sink her," Lt Cmdr Fernandes said.
"It is the first time we have spotted high explosives on board a pirate ship, normally they just stick to AK-47s and RPGs (grenades).""It is the first time we have spotted high explosives on board a pirate ship, normally they just stick to AK-47s and RPGs (grenades)."
The 19 pirate suspects were released because they had not attacked Portuguese property or citizens.The 19 pirate suspects were released because they had not attacked Portuguese property or citizens.