Somali pirates hijack Thai ship

2008-08-14 09:59

Kuala Lumpur - A Thai cargo ship has been hijacked off the Somali coast, a maritime watchdog said on Thursday as it called on the United Nations and coalition forces to halt pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden.

"The Thai general cargo ship was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on August 12 by Somali pirates," Noel Choong, head of the Kuala Lumpur-based International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre, said.

Choong said the watchdog was unable to provide additional information on the attack because "the ship was still moving with the hijackers onboard".

"In view of the crew safety, we are unable to provide further details," he said.

Choong said that because Somalia has no central government, the military forces patrolling the Gulf of Aden should take the lead to deter piracy which is rampant in the region.

"We hope the UN and the coalition forces will stop the attacks. Unless there is a deterrent, the attacks and hijacking will continue to escalate," he warned.

In recent weeks, the IMB has reported a series of attacks and hijackings off the Somali coast.

Last week, a Singapore-flagged vessel was attacked by pirates who fired a rocket-propelled grenade that landed on the ship but did not explode. A coalition warship scared away the attackers and the vessel escaped unscathed.

On July 20, pirates seized the Stella Maris, a Japanese-owned bulk carrier, and demanded a ransom from the owners.

A Nigerian tug boat is also believed to have been seized on August 4 but the centre is still seeking more details on the case.

The waters off Nigeria and Somalia are the world's most dangerous hotspots for seafarers.

- AFP