Malta-flagged vessel seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden

September 9th, 2010 - 12:30 am ICT by BNO News  

GULF OF ADEN (BNO NEWS) — A Malta-flagged vessel was seized by pirates in the eastern region of the Gulf of Aden on early Wednesday morning, the European Union Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) confirmed.

The European Union Naval Force Somalia said it received reports earlier on Wednesday that the merchant vessel OLIB G was being approached by a skiff, which are often used by Somali pirates. The USS Princeton warship of Task Force 151 made several unsuccessful attempts to contact the vessel.

After the failed communication attempts, the warship deployed its helicopter to the last known position of the OLIB G and was able to identify two pirates on board of the merchant vessel.

The MV OLIB G was sailing west in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor through the Gulf of Aden with a cargo of ballast. The merchant vessel carries a crew of 18 people, of which 15 are Georgian and 3 Turkish.

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