Tuesday, July 22, 2008
SOMALI pirates have hijacked a 52,454 dwt bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia's Puntland province. According to press reports the Panama-flag, 2007-built Stella Maris was seized on Sunday. The ship is managed by Tokyo-based company MMS and is believed to have 18 crew on board.
Puntland presidential adviser Bile Mohamoud Qabowsade is quoted by AFP as saying: "Thirty eight heavily-armed pirates stormed the ship sailing in the international waters in the Gulf of Aden. So far we are tracking them down. We want to know where they are going to stay with the ship."
This latest hijacking comes weeks after the UN Security Council announced that Somalia Transitional Government had agreed to allow foreign warships into its waters in pursuit of pirates. So far there are no reports of involvement by naval forces.
Source: Maritime Global Net, July 22, 2008