A Maltese-registered freighter managed to fend off pirates who tried to board it off Yemen today, NATO has reported.

The 28,693-tonne bulk carrier MV Atlantica was travelling through the Gulf of Aden when the pirates tried to board it some 30 miles off Yemen.

NATO Lieutenant Commander Alexandre Fernandes said two speed-boats approached the ship, each with six heavily-armed men. One skiff used a ladder to try to board the vessel and another shot at it with automatic weapons, he said.

The bulk carrier escaped by increasing speed and using other unspecified anti-piracy measures, Fernandes said.

Earlier, Somali pirates released a Togo-flagged cargo ship seized last week.

A pirate source said a $100,000 ransom was paid for the release of the 5,000-tonne MV Sea Horse.

"Somali traders were involved in the release of this ship. They mediated and paid some money. I think it was not more than $100,000," the source told Reuters by telephone.

Pirates attacked at least 15 vessels in March after only two raids in January and February.

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