Somali pirates hijack ship with 18 Filipinos on board

[mabuhay]

July 5 2010: Somali pirates have hijacked a Marshall-flagged chemical tanker carrying 18 Filipino sailors in the southern Red Sea, the EU anti-piracy mission on Monday said.

The MT Motivator reported coming under small arms fire from pirates on Sunday in the northern Bab-Al-Mandeb area, the strait between the Arabian peninsula and the Horn of Africa, the EU NAVFOR mission said in a statement.
"After notification of this attack, attempts were made to make contact with the Motivator but to no avail. The hijack was confirmed early on 5 July," the statement said.

[mabuhay]

DFA seeks release of 18 Pinoy seafarers
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 07/06/2010
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said it is addressing the recent hijacking of another vessel with Filipino seafarers on board, in waters off Somalia.

“We are addressing them,” DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo told ANC’s Dateline Philippines.

Romulo said they immediately coordinated with concerned foreign countries for the safe release of the Pinoy seafarers.

“As usual, when this happens, we coordinate with the foreign countries. In fact, as you know, there is the 5th fleet which is in Bahrain, and we immediately informed, through our ambassador, of this,” Romulo said.

“We make specific mention of the Filipinos who are involved. So far, knock on wood, most of the Filipinos who were victims of this have been released,” he added.

On Monday, Agence France-Presse reported that Somali pirates hijacked the MT Motivator in the southern Red Sea.

The Marshall-flagged chemical tanker had on board 18 Filipino crew members.

“We continue to work with our friends in the international community, as well as those who are patrolling the waters,” he said.