LONDON (BNO NEWS) — An official with knowledge of the situation on Tuesday said that Somali pirates have hijacked two more vessels, including a UK-flagged chemical tanker.

The official, who’s authenticity was confirmed by BNO News, asked her name and affiliation not to be published because she was not authorized to speak on the issue.

The British ship, dubbed the St. James Park, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on Monday at around 4.30 p.m. local time, the official said. The European Union naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR), the force which is patrolling the waters off Somalia, confirmed the information.

A total of 26 crew members are on board. The group exists of three Filipinos, three Russians, one Georgian, two Romanians, five Bulgarians, two Ukrainians, one Polish, six Indians and three Turkish. No UK citizens are on board, the force said.

The ship sent a distress message as it was transiting the International Recognized Transit Corridor (IRTC). “The ship sent a distress message and a warship from Task Force 151 was able to get in contact with the ship using his Somali translator who reported that the ship has been hijacked,” EU NAVFOR said in a statement. The M/V St James Park began her journey on Sunday, and was registered with MSC HOA but did not join a group transit.

EU NAVFOR said the ship is now heading towards the Somali coast and is monitoring the situation. “The main tasks of EUNAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy,” it said.

The hijacking of the British ship was followed by yet another hijacking about half an hour later, which the European Union naval force was not immediately able to confirm. The unnamed official said it was a Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier called the Navios Apollon, carrying 19 crew members.

No one was injured as the pirates took control of both ships, but its crew members remain captive.

The latest hijackings came on the same day that other Somali pirates released a Singapore-flagged container ship called the Kota Wajar. The ship and its 21 crew members had been held captive since the early morning of October 15 when they were hijacked about 300 nautical miles north of Seychelles.

The ship was released outside Haradere off the coast of Somalia, according to the European Union naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR). “EU NAVFOR is monitoring the situation,” it said.

It was not immediately clear if any ransom was paid to secure the release of the crew members. The Canadian warship HMCS FREDERICTON from TF 508 provided medical and logistical assistance after they had been released.

At least nine ships with 237 crew members on board remain hijacked in the region.