Ship hijacked as French watch

SOMALI pirates hijacked a small Danish-flag general cargo ship last Saturday some 114 miles off the coast and sailed it towards Hobbio, north of Mogadishu, where there is now a small fleet of hijacked vessels. According to reports a French warship arrived on the scene as the Danica White entered Somali waters but refused requests from the ship's manager, H Folmer, to intervene within territorial waters.

The 1,616 dwt ship was on passage from Sharjah to Mombasa with five crew on board. There are also three fishing vessels being held at Hobbio. It is understood negotiations for their release are underway. There are unconfirmed rumours that a crew member from one of the fishing vessels may have been killed.

The ICC International Maritime Bureau has reiterated warnings not to sail anywhere near French ships or the Somali coast and to take anti-piracy measures while in the Northern Indian Ocean and the approaches to the Red Sea.