Turkish Ship Hijacked off Somalia

At least 6 other ships out maneuvered the armed and dangerous fast boats.

The MV YASA NESLIHAN, a Turkish ship with a crew of 20 was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on November 2, 2008. However, the International Maritime Bureau in Malaysia said an Italian ship with a crew of 26 managed to get away after doing some aggressive maneuvers. The U.S. Navy also provided a report that said a Spanish patrol plane buzzed pirates that were attempting to hijack an oil tanker several times and dropped smoke canisters near them, which seemed to chase them off.

This past weekend, NATO sent three more warships into the Gulf of Aden, but the pirate attacks have continued. At least 77 ships have been attacked in the African waters this year. Thirty-one ships have been hijacked, and 10 remain in the hands of pirates along with nearly 200 crew members.

The Turkish ship was transporting iron ore from Canada to China. A spokesperson for Yasa Holdings, which owns the vessel, said the company learned of the hijacking through the vessels' alarm system.

The EU it is sending at least four more warships to the area, which will be assisted by aircraft. The recent attacks off Somalia have shocked the shipping industry and have increased insurance rates for companies transiting the region.