Somali Pirates: Liberian-flagged Chemical Tanker Captured

Reported here:

Armed Somali pirates have hijacked a Liberian-flagged chemical tanker in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden, a regional maritime official confirmed on Friday.

Andrew Mwangura, East Africa's coordinator of the Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP), said the seized vessel has 30 crew members, mostly Indians onboard.

"The pirates seized the Liberian flagged chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden with 30 crew members mostly Indians. There are three Indonesians, about 25 Indians and the remaining could be British," Mwangura told Xinhua by telephone.

According to this, three British secuity gaurds jumped overboard and were rescued by helicopter.

UPDATE: More on the capture and the performance of the security team, which apparently used fire hose, LRAD and other tools but were overwhelmed by RPGs and gunfire here.