This undated picture made at an unknown location shows the Sirius Star tanker conducting a trial run in South Korea. Somali pirates have hijacked the Saudi-owned oil tanker the Sirius Star off the Kenyan coast, the U.S. Navy said Monday, Nov. 17, 2008. The tanker owned by Saudi oil company Aramco, is 330 meters (1,080 feet), about the length of an aircraft carrier, making it one of the largest ships to sail the seas. It can carry about 2 million barrels of oil. Lt. Nathan Christensen, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, said the Sirius Star was carrying crude at the time of Saturday's hijacking, but he did know how much. (AP Photo/ Newsis via Daewoo shipping yards and commissioned )From USA Today:
Somali pirates seized control of a giant oil tanker today as it was traveling near the coast of Africa, the U.S. Navy says.
"All 25 crew members on board are reported to be safe and the vessel is fully laden," Vela, the ship's operator, says in a statement. "Vela response teams have been established and are working to ensure the safe release of the crew members and the vessel."
Flags of Convenience, a blog, says the ship is a "very large crude carrier.
The U.S. Navy says the pirates are moving the vessel to an island they control.
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More News On Somali Piracy
Pirates take 'super tanker' towards Somalia -- CNN
Somali pirates seize supertanker loaded with crude -- AP
Pirates hijack Saudi tanker off African coast: US -- AFP
Pirates hijack oil supertanker off east Africa -- Reuters
Britons held hostage as Somali pirates seize oil supertanker -- The Telegraph
Somali pirates seize supertanker loaded with crude -- FOX 59
Pirates Hijack Saudi Tanker off Kenyan Coast -- Voice Of America
Sirius Star cargo worth $100 million? -- Flags Of Convenience