Pirates from Somalia have hijacked a Greek ship and another from Hong Kong, each carrying 25 crew, a Kenyan maritime official said on Thursday. Heavily-armed Somali pirates have hijacked more that 30 vessels off the Horn of Africa country this year, making its waters the most dangerous in the world.
Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme said the Greek ship, the Centauri, was heading for Kenya when it was seized on Wednesday off southern Somalia. He told Reuters that gunmen captured the Great Creation, owned by Hong Kong's Sinotrans, early on Thursday. Mwangura said the Centauri was now being taken towards Eyl, a lawless former fishing outpost on the Somali coast where gangs are holding several ships for ransom.
"The ship was expected to call at Mombasa on September 19 and discharge 17,000 tonnes of bulk salt," he said. "It was taken in southern Somalia, which is unusual for the pirates." The Great Creation was travelling to India from Tunisia with 24 Chinese and a Sri Lankan on board when it was attacked. There were no immediate details on the Greek ship's crew.
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