Pirates hijack ship near Kenyan coast

Somali pirates hijacked a gas vessel with a crew of 17 off the coast of Kenya, the European Union Naval Force Somalia reported Sunday.
The Singapore-registered MV York, a liquefied petroleum gas vessel, issued a distress call Saturday night. A statement from the EU unit Sunday said a Turkish helicopter of the Combined Maritime Forces spotted the MV York and observed armed pirates on board.
At the time the pirates boarded Saturday, the vessel was on its way from Mombasa, Kenya, to Mahe, Seychelles, according to the EU unit and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
"Initially the MV York was drifting but then began moving at 10 knots this morning," the EU Naval Force Somalia statement said. Another ship that was hijacked on October 9, the fishing vessel Golden Wave, also was seen in the vicinity of the MV York, according to the statement.
The MV York crew includes a German captain, two Ukrainians and 14 Filipinos, the EU Naval Force Somalia statement said.
According to the EU unit's figures, Somali pirates currently hold 19 vessels with 428 hostages.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said it was working with the MV York's owner and other government agencies to secure its release.

Source:http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/10/24/kenya.singapore.pirates/index.html