Pirates hijack Thai cargo ship
Updated
A Thai cargo ship has been hijacked off the Somali coast.
Noel Choong, head of the Kuala Lumpur-based International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre, used the hijacking to call on United Nations and coalition forces to halt pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden.
"The Thai general cargo ship was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on August 12 by Somali pirates," he says.
Mr Choong says he is unable to provide additional information on the attack because "the ship was still moving with the hijackers onboard."
"In view of the crew safety, we are unable to provide further details," he says
In recent weeks, the IMB has reported a series of attacks and hijackings off the Somali coast.
Last week, a Singapore-flagged vessel was attacked by pirates who fired a rocket-propelled grenade that landed on the ship but did not explode.
A coalition warship scared away the attackers and the vessel escaped unscathed.
On July 20, pirates seized the Stella Maris, a Japanese-owned bulk carrier, and demanded a ransom from the owners.
A Nigerian tug boat is also believed to have been seized on August 4 but the centre is still seeking more details on the case.
The waters off Nigeria and Somalia are the world's most dangerous hotspots for seafarers.
