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Somali pirates seize oil firm's tugboat off Yemen

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-16 23:43

SAN'A, Yemen -- An official from the oil company Total says Somali pirates have hijacked one of its tugboats off the Yemeni coast.

Pirates on speedboat approach one of their mother boats docked near Eyl, Somalia in this framegrab made from a November 24, 2008 TV footage. [Agencies]

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The Yemen-based Total SA official says the tugboat is carrying a crew of Indonesians and other nationalities. He says the boat was on its way to Malaysia when it was seized Tuesday.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

Somali pirates have seized 40 vessels off Somalia's 1,880-mile (3,000-kilometer) coastline this year. Maritime officials say 14 remain held along with more than 250 crew members.