Officials in Bossasso, Somalia, say soldiers boarded the Panamanian-registered ship Awail and rescued its crew unharmed after the pirates ran out of ammunition, the BBC reported Wednesday.

Two soldiers were injured in the rescue, the second try by Puntland officials to take the vessel, which was hijacked while carrying cement from Oman to Bossasso, the broadcaster said.

Regional officials have launched an urgent effort to gain control of the piracy epidemic off Somalia because many pirate gangs are based in the Puntland town of Eyl, the BBC reported.

Meanwhile, Somali pirates were still holding the Ukrainian ship MV Faina in the Indian Ocean, demanding a $20 million ransom for its crew and cargo of 33 tanks and other military equipment.