British ship is seized by pirates

Updated: 11:36, Monday, 6 April 2009

Somali pirates have captured a British-owned ship operated by an Italian company.

1 of 1 Hansa Stavanger Seized by pirates on Saturday
Hansa Stavanger
Seized by pirates on Saturday

Andrew Mwangura of the Mombasa-based East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme said 'A 32,000-tonne bulk carrier was seized early this morning.'

'It is UK-owned but operated by Italians. The crew is mixed but we are not sure of their nationalities,' he added.

Over the weekend, a French yacht and a Yemeni tug were captured off Somalia, but there were no further details.

Mr Mwangura said a 20,000-tonne German container vessel seized last Saturday was the Hansa Stavanger.

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