This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8385845.stm

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Somali pirates seize super tanker Somali pirates seize supertanker
(about 1 hour later)
Somali pirates have captured a tanker carrying oil to the US, officials say.Somali pirates have captured a tanker carrying oil to the US, officials say.
The Greek-owned Maran Centaurus was about 1,300km (800 miles) off the coast of Somalia when it was hijacked on Sunday, said the EU Naval task force. The Greek-owned Maran Centaurus was about 1,300km (800 miles) off Somalia when it was hijacked on Sunday, said the EU Naval task force (Navfor).
The ship weighs some 300,000 tonnes and is believed to be one of the largest yet seized by Somali pirates. There are 28 crew members on board.The ship weighs some 300,000 tonnes and is believed to be one of the largest yet seized by Somali pirates. There are 28 crew members on board.
Pirate attacks have been common off the Somali coast and international navies have been deployed to counter them.Pirate attacks have been common off the Somali coast and international navies have been deployed to counter them.
A spokesman for the Greek coastguard told Reuters news agency that about nine armed pirates attacked the ship close to the Seychelles.A spokesman for the Greek coastguard told Reuters news agency that about nine armed pirates attacked the ship close to the Seychelles.
The taskforce said the ship had been heading for New Orleans in the US from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia but was now heading towards Somalia. The agency reported the Greek defence ministry as saying that a Greek navy frigate which had been involved with the Navfor operation was now shadowing the vessel.
Navfor said the ship had been sailing to New Orleans in the US from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia but was now heading towards Somalia.
Its crew is made up of 16 Filipinos, nine Greeks, two Ukrainians and one Romanian.Its crew is made up of 16 Filipinos, nine Greeks, two Ukrainians and one Romanian.
An EU naval spokesman told the BBC 11 vessels and 264 crew members were currently being held in Somalia. Maran Tankers Management, which operates the vessel, told Reuters the crew were "well".
'Mother ships'
War-torn Somalia has had no functioning government since 1991, allowing pirates to operate along the lawless coast almost with impunity.
A $3m ransom was paid for the release of the Sirius Star
In recent months, the pirates have started operating further from the Somali coast.
They are believed to use "mother-ships" to reach the high seas, before using small skiffs to carry out their attacks.
An EU naval spokesman told the BBC 11 vessels and 264 crew members are currently being held in Somalia.
In November 2008, the Sirius Star, carrying two million barrels of oil - a quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output - became the largest ship ever seized by pirates. It weighs 318,000 tonnes.In November 2008, the Sirius Star, carrying two million barrels of oil - a quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output - became the largest ship ever seized by pirates. It weighs 318,000 tonnes.
The vessel was released in January after a ransom of $3m (then £1.95m) was paid.The vessel was released in January after a ransom of $3m (then £1.95m) was paid.
Pirates have started operating further from the Somali coast in recent months. Navfor is one of several international naval forces patrolling the oceans off the country to try to prevent the captures of ships using the vital sea routes. Nato and the US also lead task forces.
They are believed to use "mother-ships" to reach the high seas, before using small skiffs to carry out their attacks. Earlier this month, the US began using unmanned drones to scour the Indian Ocean for suspect vessels.