Twenty-one crew on board vessel that was headed to Kenyan port
A pirate who took part in an earlier incident involving the Spanish trawler Alakrana, but was captured, arrives at the Tojerron military airport, near Madrid. The pirates' cohorts, who are still holding the ship, have demanded their release, plus US$4 million. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
MOGADISHU - SOMALI pirates on Thursday seized a Singapore-registered container ship in the Indian Ocean near the Seychelles.
The M.V. Kota Wajar, with 21 crew on board, including two Singapore permanent residents, was headed to the Kenyan port of Mombasa when it was seized by the pirates about 555km north of the Seychelles yesterday morning.
The ship was boarded just after 10am Singapore time, according to a brief statement issued by Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA).
The agency said it was working with the ship owner and relevant agencies on the matter.
A separate statement from Pacific International Lines said the owners were 'taking all possible steps to ensure the safety of the ship, crew and cargo on board'.
The maritime security centre of the European Union, which has an anti-piracy naval force patrolling waters affected by Somali piracy, confirmed the hijacking.
Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS, INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE
