Somalian pirates hijack another ship

MOMBASA, Kenya, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Somalian pirates off the coast of Tanzania have hijacked an empty cargo ship with 15 Indian crew members, officials said.

Pirates attacked the MT Asphalt Venture after it unloaded bitumen at Mombasa, Kenya, the BBC reported. The ship belongs to the United Arab Emirates company Bitumen Invest.

Xinhua News Agency said the ship was hijacked Wednesday as it was sailing to the South African port of Durban.

"The MT Asphalt Venture was hijacked in Tanzanian waters while under way to Durban from Mombasa. The vessel is empty and has 15 Indian crew," Andrew Mwangura told Xinhua by telephone from Mombasa. Mwangura is the East Africa coordinator of the Seafarers Assistance Program.