The Sovfracht Maritime Bulletin reported the dry-cargo ship has 13 crew members, including eight Russians, and was registered in the Bahamas, RIA Novosti reported.

Four Estonians and a Georgian were also aboard the ship, the Russian news agency said.

Pirates have attacked more than 60 ships so far this year, with about 30 of them seized off the coast of Somalia, officials say, noting the East African nation has no central government and fields no navy.