Pirates demand $20 000 ransom
05/04/2007 17:27  - (SA)  

Somali pirates sieze ship, crew Pirates hijack ship off Somalia Pirates hijack food-aid ship

Nairobi - Somali pirates are demanding $20 000 (about R142 800) for the return of an Indian-flagged merchant ship and its crew, said officials on Thursday.

The pirates, armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, seized the MV Nimatullah and its 14-member crew off the coast of Mogadishu early on Monday.

The pirates had originally demanded $40 000 (about R285 600), but scaled down their demand based on their valuation of the ship's cargo, said Andrew Mwangura, head of the Kenyan chapter of the Seafarers Assistance Programme.

The British-based International Maritime Bureau warned on Wednesday there had been a marked increase in pirate attacks in Somali waters.

"Vessels are advised to steer well clear of Somalian waters at all times and only approach once full clearance to enter the port has been received," said the organisation in a statement posted on their website.

The MV Nimatullah was carrying more than 800 tons of cargo, including cooking oil, second hand clothing and rice.

Most dangerous area for ships

It is being held at coastal town of Harardheere, a pirate stronghold 400 km north of the capital, said Mwangura.

Mwangura expressed concern about the crew, all of whom are south Asians, and cargo's intended recipients.

The ship's Dubai-based owner, Issa Bhata, could not be reached for comment.

Mwangura added that another ship, MV Nishan, was attacked close to Mogadishu seaport by pirates on Tuesday, but managed to escape.

The coast of Somalia, which has had no effective government since warlords ousted a dictatorship in 1991 and then turned on each other, has become one of the world's most dangerous areas for ships.

In February, Somali pirates seized a UN-chartered vessel that had delivered food aid to northeastern Somalia.

Four atacks so far

The ship and its 12-member crew are still being held.

In 2005, two ships carrying UN World Food Programme aid were overwhelmed by pirates.

The number of overall reported at-sea hijackings that year was 35, compared with two in 2004, according to the International Maritime Bureau.

In 2006 there were ten attacks while this year there have been four so far.

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