A bulk cargo carrier, the MV Abdullah, sailing with a crew of 23, was hijacked on Tuesday by Somali pirates off the coast of Somalia in the Indian Ocean.
The vessel was carrying 55,000 tonnes of coal from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates when it was attacked by 15-20 armed pirates who boarded the ship in two speedboats and opened fire as they took control of the vessel.
The incident occurred about 600 nautical miles (1 110km) east of Mogadishu.
The crew members have been taken hostage, and distress messages sent by them indicate the severity of the situation, the UK’s Independent newspaper reported.
The hijacking is part of a resurgence of attacks by pirates in the region, taking advantage of a security gap due to international naval forces being diverted north from the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea, where Houthi rebels from Yemen have been attacking maritime trade since November.
The pirates' actions have raised concerns about the safety and security of vessels navigating these waters.
The Abdullah's owner, Kabir Steel Re-Rolling Mills in Bangladesh, has confirmed the hijacking and is awaiting further communication from the pirates regarding the crew's well-being.
