Pirates abandon hijacked ship

The 4,281 dwt Panamanian general cargo ship Lugela, was hijacked by pirates in the early hours of Saturday, 900 nautical miles east of Eyl, Somalia. The pirates abandoned the vessel early today, after failing to gain access to the crew or to change the course of the ship.

The 12 Ukrainian crew are reported to be safe and EU Navfor is monitoring the situation.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Ruslan Demchenko told Interfax-Ukraine that the crew did not allow the pirates to change the course of the ship to the coast of Somalia.

Mr.Demchenko said that during the attack on the ship, the Ukrainian sailors acted in accordance with a plan worked out earlier and locked themselves in the ship's engine room, with a sufficient amount of drinking water and food.

He said that after checking the condition of the vessel, the crew continued their voyage on the predetermined route to Mauritius.