Somali pirates have seized a Kenyan-flagged Spanish fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean off Somalia, reports said.
Cmdr. John Harbour, a spokesman for the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR), said Tuesday the armed pirates hijacked FV Sakoba 400 miles east off the coast of the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam last Wednesday. They apparently took the vessel to their stronghold of Harardhere, he added.
Reports quoting Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Program said the pirates abducted the ship for possible use as a "mother ship" to launch more attacks.
The Spanish-owned vessel has a 16-member crew on board. They include 10 Kenyans, one Spaniard, one Pole, one Cape Verdean, a Namibian and two Senegalese.
EU NAVFOR, the European Union's anti-piracy mission off Somalia, is monitoring the situation.
Vessels are being seized frequently in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean off the African coast despite the strong presence of international naval forces in the region, including from the NATO and the European Union, to protect one of the world's busiest shipping areas.
The pirates intensify their venture during March-May when the seas are calmer.
Pirates are currently holding at least eight ships and more than 100 crew, demanding multimillion-dollar ransoms for their release. Most of the gangs are based in northern Somalia's Puntland region.
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