/ Source: The Associated Press
The European Union said on Thursday that two European-owned chemical tankers had been hijacked off the Somali coastline in the past 24 hours.
A statement by the bloc's naval headquarters in Northwood, Britain, said a 9,000-ton Greek-owned vessel with 19 crew members was attacked approximately 450 miles east of the coast Wednesday afternoon.
It said that a 23,000-ton Norwegian-owned vessel was seized 250 miles east of Somalia on Thursday morning.
The Norwegian Shipowners' Association said in a statement Thursday that the Bow Asir was hijacked by 16 to 18 pirates. It said the ship had a crew of 27 with a Norwegian captain.
