By Philip Mwakio

Somali pirates have taken hostage 10 Kenyan sailors aboard a Spanish owned fishing vessel in the latest series of pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean.

According to the Seafarers Assistance Programme co-ordinator Andrew Mwangura the pirates seized the vessel, FV Sakoba, off the Kenyan and Seychellois Coast last week.

"We can confirm the vessel that left Mombasa for fishing grounds in the Indian Ocean last November has come under pirate attacks," he told The Standard yesterday.

Mwangura said the pirates had reportedly turned the ship, which belongs to the East African Deep Fishing Company with offices in Mombasa, into a mother ship from where they are now launching their attacks against other vessels.

Maritime sources said an attack last week on a Saudi Arabian super tanker owned by a Norwegian firm, UBT Ocean and flying a Singaporean flag, could have been launched from FV Sakoba.

Mwangura said communication with the ship had not been established so far.

"It is very strange because in all other pirate attacks, the pirates make contacts with ship owners for the sole purpose of negotiating for a ransom," said Mwangura.

He said other nationalities aboard the ship taken hostage include a Spaniard, a Pole , two Senegalese, a Cape Verdean and a Namibian.