Friday, August 06, 2010
The pirates boarded the almost 19,000 dwt ship as it was sailing west in a recommended shipping lane through the Gulf of Aden, EU Navfor said in a statement.
Helicopters and warships were sent to the scene of the hijacking but the Syria Star, which was carrying a cargo of sugar, had reversed course and was heading southeast back towards the Horn of Africa, EU Navfor said.
The pirates did not respond to attempts to contact them by radio.
The crew comprises 22 Syrians and two Egyptians, the statement said. (Writing by Avril Ormsby; editing by Tim Pearce)