Kuala Lumpur (Sept 22, 2008) : Armed pirates have attacked and hijacked another Greek-owned cargo ship in the eastern coast of Somalia, taking all 19 crew members as hostage, an anti-piracy watchdog said today.

Yesterday's attack comes just five days after pirates hijacked another Greek bulk carrier within the same area.

Four pirates in three speedboats launched an attack on the boat, which was flying a Bahamas flag, before boarding and hijacking the carrier, said Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau's 24-hour reporting centre here.

"We have and are still issuing warnings, that the pirates are attacking ships again in the eastern coast of Somalia," said Choong.

He could not say if the hostages were harmed, and declined to reveal the cargo that was being transported.

Choong urged the international community to take "urgent steps" to increase security in the troubled Somalian waters.

"The attacks in the eastern cost are more dangerous, because it's open seas," he said. "To patrol this open area is not as easy. This needs concerted effort by the United Nations."

On Thursday, another Greek-owned bulk carrier cargo ship carrying 25 crew was attacked by pirates off the eastern coast of Somalia.

Pirates have captured dozens of ships around the Horn of Africa this year, making the waters off Somalia the most dangerous in the world.

"The pirates are continuing because there are no major deterents," said Choong.

Sunday's hijacking pushes the number of attacks this year in Somali waters to 56.

Some 20,000 ships pass annually through the Gulf of Aden, which connects the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Source: thesundaily