Somali pirates have seized a Ukrainian ship carrying at least 30 tanks and some Russian crew, Reuters quoted a maritime group as saying today. Pirates have captured more than 30 vessels off Somalia this year, making its waters the most dangerous in the world and threatening a globally important shipping lane between Europe and Asia. The gangs seek, and often get, large ransoms. The East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme said the Ukrainian ship seized on Thursday was carrying tanks. Ukrainian news agency Interfax-Ukraine also said the ship, under a Belize flag, had a military cargo "including about 30 T-72 tanks".
