Pirates seize Chinese cargo ship with 25 crew onboard

London (Earth Times - dpa) - Suspected Somali pirates have seized a Chinese cargo ship in the Indian Ocean and its crew of 25, according to the EU's London-based Atalanta naval mission Monday. The ship, the De Xin Hai, was taken on Monday around 550 nautical miles north of the Seychelles and 700 nautical miles off the Somali coast.

The Atalanta mission, based in Northwood, London, is in contact with the ship's owners, a spokesman said.

Two pirates were spotted on deck by a reconnaissance aircraft. Two boats presumed to belong to the pirates were being pulled behind the freighter.

It brings to six the number of ships currently held by Somali pirates, with a total of 146 seamen.

NATO and the EU mission protect the waters off Somalia, but this attack came in unguarded waters to the south of the safe passage corridor.

On Friday pirates attempted to board another ship for 40 minutes without success.