Pirates hijack Italian oil tanker carrying 17 Indians
09 Feb 2011
According to news reports that quoted the Italian coast guard, an Italian oil tanker has been hijacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean.
The Italian Marine Corps said, the captain of the ship tried to evade capture by speeding up, changing gear suddenly and firing jets of water at the pirates' skiff.
Cosimo Nicastro, captain of an Italian coast guard frigate said at least five pirates fired rockets and machine guns at the 266-meter Savina Caylin and they are believed to have taken control the tanker.
He added there were no casualties in the attack, which happened around 0625 GMT around 500 miles (800 kilometers) off the coast of India around 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) off the coast of Somalia, he said.
The Italian Navy frigate was headed for the region and is expected to reach two days.
The ship had on board, a crew of 5 Italians and 17 Indians. It was built by Naples-based Fratelli D'Amato SpA shipbuilders.
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