Somali Pirates Hijack Yet Another Cargo Ship

A Hong Kong ship carrying wheat is the latest victim
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 18, 2008 4:40 PM CST
Somali Pirates Hijack Yet Another Cargo Ship
Eight Somali pirates sit at the Kenya Ports Authority police station, in Mombasa, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008, where they are being held after being handed over to the Kenyan authorities by the Royal Navy.   (AP Photo)

Pirates off the coast of Africa have struck again, hijacking a Hong Kong cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden, the Financial Times reports. The Delight has 25 crew members and 36,000 tons of wheat, and hijackers were reportedly steering it toward Somalia. It's the latest in a string of such hijackings, including one of a Saudi super-tanker now anchored off Somalia's coast.

The Saudi ship also has 25 crew members aboard, along with 2 million barrels of oil. Generally, the hijackers have little interest in the actual cargo and demand ransoms for the safe return of the ship and crew. In all, Somali pirates are holding 16 ships and more than 250 sailors hostage, AFP notes. (More Somalia stories.)

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