Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Pirates have seized a Ukrainian cargo vessel carrying T-72 tanks off eastern Somalia, an official said today.
Ukraine's foreign ministry said the ship had 21 crew members.
The seizure is the latest in a string of hijackings in waters near the troubled African country.
The hijacking brings the number of attacks off Somalia to 61 this year, and pirates are now holding 14 ships and more than 300 crew members, said Noel Choong, who heads the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting centre based in Malaysia.
Choong said pirates attacked the Ukrainian vessel yesterday. He declined to reveal the crew's nationalities or the ship's destination, citing policy.
Most pirate attacks occur in the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, to the north of the African country. However, yesterday's hijacking was in the Indian Ocean waters off eastern Somalia — the third in that area in recent weeks.
Choong said the United Nations and the international community should take "serious action" to prevent further attacks.
"There must be a deterrent for the pirates not to attack the ships. If there is no deterrent, it will continue," he said.
The US Naval Central Command has set up a security corridor patrolled by an international coalition of warships. However, pirate attacks remain prevalent off Somalia, which has not had a functioning government since 1991.
Some 20,000 vessels pass through the Gulf of Aden every year while traveling between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments