Somali pirates seize American yacht

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Men believed to be pirates in a boat off the Somali coast (file photo)

Somali pirates have hijacked a yacht with four Americans on board in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Oman, piracy watchdog ECOTERRA International and US navy officials say.

US navy officials confirmed on Saturday that they were aware of the hijacking by Somali pirates, which occurred Friday.

The US government also said on Saturday that it was assessing possible responses to the hijacking of the private yacht owned by American couple Jean and Scott Adam who travel the world.

According to a website chronicling the Adams' voyage, they are travelling the world and handing out thousands of Bibles.

Four people are believed to be on board the yacht.

The hijacking came two days after a Somali pirate was sentenced to 33 years in prison by a New York court for the 2009 hijacking of the Maersk Alabama.

Around 1,200 sailors were taken hostage by pirates in 2010, mostly in the Indian Ocean -- a figure described by the International Maritime Bureau as alarming.

MSH/MMA/MB

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