Report: Somali pirates hold 300 mariners

MOSCOW, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A new assessment of pirate activity off the coast of Somalia has found that more than 300 mariners are being held hostage, a Russian publication says.

The Sovfracht Maritime Bulletin says the pirate attacks have dealt a severe blow to busy shipping routes through the Gulf Aden, RIA Novosti reported Wednesday.

The bulletin said pirates have seized 50 vessels this year, including two yachts, and more than 25 Russian sailors, some of whom have since been released.

"More than 300 sailors are being held captive, to be precise 287 plus an indefinite number of crew members from fishing boats of Yemen and Kenya," Sovfracht editor Mikhail Voitenko said. "The average ransom they demand is $1.8 million per vessel, and 60 days is the average amount of time spent in captivity."