The captain of a Virgin Islands-owned chemical tanker hijacked this week has died from gunshot wounds suffered when the ship was attacked, a Somali pirate said.The news came as a container ship hijacked earlier this year came under attack for a second time.
Somali sea gangs have stepped up attacks in the past two months, especially off the Seychelles, as pirates extend their range to evade navies patrolling off the Horn of Africa.
The pirate spokesman said: "The captain of the chemical tanker died from gunshot wounds he got during the hijack. The ship is headed for Haradheere with the dead captain."
The European Union naval force operating in the area said pirates had seized the 22,294 deadweight tonne tanker MV Theresa VIII northwest of the Seychelles with 28 North Korean crew on board. The ship, which is operated from Singapore, was sailing to the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
The European force said that pirates also attacked the US ship Maersk Alabama, which was hijacked in April. Gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons but a security detachment aboard the huge container ship responded and the vessel managed to escape with no casualties reported.
In April, the captain of the Maersk Alabama volunteered to board a lifeboat with pirates in return for the safety of his 19 crew members. He was held for several days aboard the lifeboat. US Navy snipers killed three pirates.
REUTERS
