Somali pirates fire on Japanese ship

MOGADISHU, Somalia, March 23 (UPI) -- Two boats of pirates fired upon a Japanese cargo ship off the Somali coast but no one was injured, the Japanese Transportation Ministry said.

The front of the ship operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines was slightly damaged in the attack that occurred Sunday, CNN reported Monday.

The number of crew members on board was unknown.

In 2008, pirates attacked nearly 100 vessels and hijacked as many as 40 off Somalia, the International Maritime Bureau indicated.