Somali Pirates Seize Greek Cargo Ship

Somali Pirates have seized a Greek cargo ship with 21 crew members off the east coast of Africa

Waxa qoray VOA News | Washington, DC Khamiis, 05 November 2009

Pirates have seized a Greek cargo ship with 21 crew members off the east coast of Africa.

The European Union's anti-piracy force in the region says the MV Delvina was hijacked early Thursday as it sailed toward Zanzibar, in Tanzania.

The NATO force in the area confirmed the seizure. The EU statement says the ship has a crew of seven Ukrainians and 14 Filipinos.

It says the Delvina, at last report, was about 480 kilometers southeast of Mombasa, Kenya, and heading north -- in the direction of Somalia.

Somali pirates are now holding at least nine ships and well over 100 crew members. The pirates are also holding a British couple, Paul and Rachel Chandler, who they seized off a yacht nearly two weeks ago.

Somali pirate hijackings have picked up over the past four weeks after a lull of several months, caused in part by the regional monsoon season.

The pirates have demanded multi-million dollar ransoms for the Chandlers and other hostages.

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