Armed men are demanding a ransom for the release of an oil tanker they have seized off the coast of Somalia and the crew is being held captive, the European Union anti-piracy operation in the region announced late on Tuesday.
According to a statement by the EU naval force, the master of the Aris 13 confirmed his ship and crew are being held by armed pirates.
The ship, owned by Panama company was seized on Monday, the first such hijacking there in five years.
The tanker was reportedly carrying fuel from Djibouti to Mogadishu when it was seized.
It’s not clear how much the pirates are demanding. In the past, pirates have made tens of millions of dollars from such ransoms.
Patrols by navies of Nato countries as well as China, India and Iran have suppressed hijackings for several years.
But experts recently warned pirates retained their ability to strike.
The Western military alliance Nato ended its anti-piracy mission off Somalia in December.
An official based in the Middle East with knowledge of the incident told the AP that the vessel’s captain reported to the company it had been approached by two skiffs and that one had armed personnel on board. “The ship changed course quite soon after that report and is now anchored.” The official also spoke on condition of anonymity.
The EU naval force said it had passed information to the ship’s owners and an investigation was under way.
