New Delhi:
In yet another strike, Somali pirates have seized an Indian vessel along with 14 people on board off the coast of Oman.
"Somali pirates have hijacked an Indian dhow with 14 crewmembers near Salalah. The incident took place on January 9," a senior official in the Directorate of Shipping said.
The dhow (a slow-moving vessel) was sailing off Oman, about 800 nautical miles from the Somali coast when the pirates attacked, taking hostage all 14 Indian crewmembers on board, the official said.
Last year, the Somali pirates carried out several strikes, capturing 11 dhows with over 100 Indians on board.
However, they later released majority of the vessels after payment of ransom.
Repeated attacks on Indian vessels had prompted the government to issue warning to dhows about the dangers in those waters, particularly along the sea-lanes of Salalah and Male.
The merchandise conducted on seas is worth about US $110 billion annually, with Indians being among the major players.