Pirates seize cargo ship off Somalia

[unhappycamper]

Pirates seize cargo ship off Somalia
By Hyung-Jin Kim - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Nov 16, 2008 16:09:59 EST

SEOUL, South Korea — Gunmen have hijacked a cargo ship with 23 crew off the coast of Somalia, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday, as Somali pirates freed another vessel after being paid a ransom.

In the latest in a series of hijackings, a 20,000-ton ship owned by a Japanese shipping company and registered in Panama was seized Saturday night in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The crew of the Chemstar Venus consisted of five South Koreans and 18 Filipinos and the ship was carrying unidentified chemicals, the statement said.

Also Sunday, Somali pirates released an earlier-seized cargo vessel with 18 Indian crew members after being paid a ransom, Indian officials said.

All the crew members on the Japanese-owned Stolt Valor were safe, Abdul Gani Sarang, chairman of the National Union of Seafarers of India, told the NDTV news channel. He did not say who had paid the ransom or how much it was.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_pirates_somalia_111608/%2e