Maltese-flagged ship hijacked by pirates

Somali pirates yesterday hijacked the Malta-flagged vessel Frigia as it headed for Thailand.

The Turkish-managed ship was carrying a cargo of fertiliser when it was attacked and seized by pirates in the Indian ocean, about 900 miles off the coast of Somalia, at around 2.30 a.m.

Transport Malta said the latest reports indicated that the crew of 19 Turkish and two Ukrainians were safe and unharmed and the vessel was heading towards an undisclosed location in Somalia.

The authority's Merchant Shipping Directorate said it was liaising with various international authorities after it was informed of the attack by the Armed Forces of Malta's rescue coordination centre.

This centre forms part of a worldwide search and rescue network which is in turn part of the global maritime distress safety system.

The directorate 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.