NAIROBI (AFP)— Somali pirates seized an Indonesian chemical tanker Friday with 24 crew members in the Gulf of Aden, a maritime watchdog reported.

The Singapore-flagged Premoni was captured while en route to India — the third vessel since August to be taken in the region patrolled by foreign navies — said Andrew Mwangura of the East Africa Seafarers Assistance Programme.

It also marked the first attack this year.

Among the crew are 17 Indonesians, five Chinese nationals, a Nigerian and a Vietnamese, said Mwangura, adding that the sailors were safe.

On Monday, pirates seized the St James Park, a UK-flagged chemical tanker with a crew of 26 from nine different countries, while Yemeni authorities said the same day that a Yemeni freighter with 15 crew members had also been taken.

Since the end of the summer monsoon season allowed pirate attacks to resume three months ago, Somali pirates had abandoned the Gulf of Aden for the wide open seas of the Indian Ocean, venturing as far as the Seychelles and beyond.

The latest capture brings to at least 12 ships and around 270 seamen currently held by Somalia pirates.

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