The Russian Tanker Hijacked By Somali Pirats was rescued by Russia anti submarine warship with marines and copters aboard. The MV Moscow University tanker had left Sudan and was bound for China when pirates seized the vessel about 350 miles off the Yemeni island of Socotra. The tanker is owned by Novorossiysk Shipping Co. and carried a crew 23 Russians. European Union Naval Force Commander Rear Adm. Jan Thornqvist told reporters in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa. "The crew members locked themselves in the radar room. This ship has been hijacked."
Pirates are believed to be holding about 350 hostages and have control of as many as 20 vessels, many of them scattered off the coast of Somalia. Maritime authorities say bandits have attacked hundreds of ships in recent years and have negotiated ransoms estimated to be between $100 million to $200 million
