Seven warships are preparing to combat the pirates who have made Somali waters the most dangerous in the world, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

So far in 2008, more than 60 ships have been hijacked by pirates off Somalia, more than double last year's total.

Six other ships from Germany, the United States, Britain, Greece and Turkey already are in the area.

Besides fighting pirates, the task force also will escort cargo ships carrying U.N. aid to the Somalia, ANSA said.