Global General
Pirates seize two Chinese on ROK boat off East Africa
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-18 08:35
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SEOUL - Somali pirates have hijacked a Republic of Korea (ROK)-operated fishing boat with 43 sailors, ROK's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
Two ROK nationals, two Chinese and 39 Kenyans were aboard the 241-ton Kenya-registered trawler when it was attacked on Oct 9 in the waters off Kenya's Lamu Island, the ROK's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
ROK officials declined to provide details about the kidnapping, saying that might undermine chances for the fishermen's safe release.
Seoul's Yonhap News Agency, however, reported that the ship had been fishing for crab in the area for about one month before being seized and taken to a pirate stronghold in northern Somalia. The report cited the Foreign Ministry and an unidentified ROK resident living in Kenya.
It identified the ship as the Keummi 305 and the two abducted ROK citizens as the 54-year-old captain and a 67-year-old engineer, both surnamed Kim.
Yonhap said the area has been considered relatively safe because it is about 400 km away from the nearest pirate base and Kenya's navy regularly patrols the site. It said the pirates were believed to have raided the ship and taken control of it at night.
The pirates haven't contacted the ship's agent in the southeastern ROK port city of Busan for any possible negotiation, Yonhap said.
The fisheries company that owns the ship shut down its Busan head office due to financial troubles in 2007 and has been operating only with the Keummi 305, it said.
Noel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau's anti-piracy office in Malaysia could not immediately confirm the attack.
Kidnapping for ransom is common in Somalia. Hostages are rarely hurt and usually freed after a ransom is paid. Somalia, which has had no functioning government since 1991, is the world's top piracy hot spot, with armed gangs seizing cargo and holding crew for ransom.
In April, an ROK-operated oil tanker was also hijacked by Somali pirates with its 24-member crew. They still haven't been released.
Associated Press