Somali pirates seize cargo ship off Somalia, monitors say

Pirates seized a cargo ship off Somalia, UK Maritime Trade Operations and the EU's Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean reported Monday.

The alerts said eight people boarded and took control of a merchant ship near Marraye in Somalia. The vessel was not named.

“The crew is reported safe at this time,” the EU's Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean said.

Piracy off Somalia was widespread in the 2000s and peaked in 2011 before being reduced by international naval deployments and changes in commercial shipping tactics.

Somali pirates have been active again this year. Three tankers carrying oil and fertiliser were seized in April and May and are being held off the Somali coast, while a chemical tanker was seized in Yemeni waters and brought to the Somali coast in July.