Nairobi – Pirates on Sunday seized a merchant ship off the coast of the Seychelles, a regional maritime body said, and warned other vessels to avoid the area for the next two day as the weather was suitable for more hijackings.

Andrew Mwangura, head of the East African Seafarers’ Assistance Programme, said the vessel’s details inclcuding the number of its crew and nature of its cargo were yet to be determined.

“A merchant vessel reported being hijacked … approximately 250 nautical miles west of the Seychelles,” he said in a statement.

Over the last few years sea gangs have hijacked dozens of ships in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.

Despite international naval patrols, pirate activity is seen rising in coming months as the weather improves.

Mwangura said ships should avoid the seas around where the merchant vessel was taken for the next two days.

“This area will remain high risk for the next 24-48 hours as weather conditions continue to be conducive to small boat operations,” he said.

Source: Reuters.

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