Japanese ship surrounded by pirates

Japan: A Japanese multi-purpose ship was surrounded by pirates in waters off Kenya, a spokesman for the Japanese transport ministry said Monday.

"We received a report at about 05:00 pm (0800 GMT) that a Japanese ship is surrounded by pirates in waters off Kenya," the spokesman told AFP.

The ship is owned by Japanese shipping company NYK-Hinode Line Ltd. and is registered in Panama, Jiji Press reported, citing sources from the transport ministry.

The 14,162 tonne Izumi, which was sailing in waters off Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, first issued an urgent message at around 0550 Sunday then disappeared from contact with sea officials, Jiji reported.

A foreign ship in the area provided information that pirates had boarded the Izumi, it said.

Tokyo, Monday, AFP