Somali pirates have hijacked a Libyan-owned cargo ship with 17-member crew on board in the Gulf of Aden, reports quoting European Union anti-piracy force and maritime groups said.
The 4,800-ton MV Rim was seized Tuesday in the strategic channel south of Yemen by gunmen from Somalia's semi-autonomous northern region of Puntland.
The pirates are believed to be re-directing the vessel toward the Somali Basin, European Union Naval Force (NAVFOR) and Kenya-based Ecoterra, which monitor shipping off Somalia, said in separate statements.
MV Rim was seized outside the internationally recommended transit corridor patrolled by NAVFOR.
The North Korea-flagged ship is owned by White Sea Shipping of Libyan capital Tripoli.
The Libyan National Company for Maritime Transports says crew of the ship that sailed from Romania included Romanians and Libyans.
Coalition forces from ship and helicopter are monitoring the situation.
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