Brussels, Oct.20 (ANI): A Chinese bulk carrier — De Xin Hai — has been hijacked in the Indian Ocean with 25 Chinese aboard.

The Xinhua news agency quoted an official John Harbour, as saying that the EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft ( MPA) has located the ship and has seen pirates on board, as well as some small boats (skiffs) that are used in pirate attacks.

The ship was hijacked in the Indian Ocean, 350 nautical miles northeast of the Seychelles and 700 nautical miles off the east coast of Somalia, the EU naval force said in a statement from its headquarters in Britain.

The bulk carrier was not registered with the Maritime Security Center Horn of Africa.

Counting these 25 new hostages from the bulk carrier, the total number of hostages held by pirates at the Somali Coastline has reached 146, the EU naval force said. (ANI)