Somali pirates seized a Panamanian-flagged Liberian-owned carrier with 21 Filipino crew aboard Wednesday, the Philippine foreign department said in a statement, DPA reported.
The Philippine embassy in Nairobi confirmed that the bulk carrier Voc Daisy was seized Wednesday morning 305 kilometres south-east of Salalah, the statement said.
Authorities were coordinating with the local hiring agent to determine the condition of the Filipino crew, it added.
There are 45 Filipino seamen in five vessels currently being held by Somali pirates, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Since late 2008, more than 200 Filipinos have been captured by pirates off Somali waters.
The Philippines is the world's leading supplier of ship crew, with more than 350,000 sailors, about one-fifth of the world's seafarers, manning oil tankers, luxury vessels, cargo ships and passenger boats.
Somali pirates seize Liberian carrier with 21 Filipino crew
Somali pirates seized a Panamanian-flagged Liberian-owned carrier with 21 Filipino crew aboard Wednesday, the Philippine foreign department said in a statement.
