Filipino crew on seized Malta-flagged ship reported safe

A Greek-owned cargo ship flying the Maltese flag was seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia early yesterday morning and the latest reports indicate the Filipino crew is unharmed.

The Centauri - manned by a crew of 25 and carrying a cargo of salt to Mombasa, Kenya - was attacked and seized by the pirates about 200 miles off Somalia at about 2.30 a.m.

The ship was last reported heading towards an undisclosed location in Somalia.

The Malta Maritime Authority said it was informed of the piracy early in the morning by the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) of the Armed Forces of Malta. The distress message was relayed directly from the ship through RCC Piraeus, Greece.

Both RCC Malta and RCC Piraeus form part of a worldwide search and rescue network which is, in turn, part of the global maritime distress safety system.

The MMA said it is in close contact with the managers of the vessel, the International Maritime Organisation and the International Maritime Bureau which monitors piracy and armed robbery on merchant shipping.