By AHMED AL-HAJ
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
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SAN'A, Yemen (AP) — An official from the oil company Total says Somali pirates have hijacked one of its tugboats off the Yemeni coast.
The Yemen-based Total SA official says the tugboat is carrying a crew of Indonesians and other nationalities. He says the boat was on its way to Malaysia when it was seized Tuesday.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.
Somali pirates have seized 40 vessels off Somalia's 1,880-mile (3,000-kilometer) coastline this year. Maritime officials say 14 remain held along with more than 250 crew members.
Source: AP, Dec 16, 2008