BRUSSELS // Pirates have seized a German-owned freighter registered in Antigua and Barbuda off the Omani coast, the EU naval task force Atalante said on Tuesday.
It said in a statement that the EMS River, which was carrying petroleum products from the United Arab Emirates to Greece, was seized early Tuesday approximately 175 nautical miles northeast of the Omani port of Salalah.
The vessel has a crew of eight - seven Filipinos and a Romanian.
Atalante said the pirates probably used a captured ship, the Motivator, to launch their attack.
"The pirated vessel Motivator was in the vicinity of EMS River throughout the attack which further enforces the current pirate modus operandi of the use of motherships," it noted.
The EU task force says 26 vessels and 609 hostages are being held by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances