BREAKING: Somali Pirates Hijack South Korean-owned Oil Tanker

[link to www.africancrisis.co.za]
Wednesday 07-Apr-2010
A South Korean-owned oil tanker with 24 crew is reportedly hijacked by suspected Somali pirates southeast of Gulf of Aden, foreign ministry said on Sunday.

The 300,000-tonne Samho Dream was en route to Louisiana , USA from Iraq when it was attacked and subsequently seized at around 0710 GMT some 1,500 km (930 miles) southeast of Gulf of Aden, Seoul 's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The crew consist of 19 Filipinos and five South Koreans, it adds.

The tanker is registered with Marshal Islands but owned by South Korea 's Samho Shipping.

The ministry says a South Korean naval frigate patrolling the waters was contacted by the ship after it was hijacked before the communication went dead.

A total of about 25 ships and over 350 crew are currently held by pirates off Somali coast waiting for ransom to be paid.

Original date published: 6 April 2010

Source Url: [link to allafrica.com]