A Chinese bulk carrier was hijacked in the Indian Ocean on Monday, the EU's anti-piracy naval mission in the region reported, immediately launching an investigation into the incident.
The hijacking happened 550 nautical miles (1,000 kilometres) northeast of the Seychelles and 700 nautical miles off the east coast of Somalia, prime territory for marauding pirates.
"On indication of an attack an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, operating from the Seychelles was launched to investigate the incident," the EU naval mission said in a statement from its headquarters in Britain.
The ship was not registered with the Horn of Africa Maritime Security Centre, the statement said.
The hijacking happened 550 nautical miles (1,000 kilometres) northeast of the Seychelles and 700 nautical miles off the east coast of Somalia, prime territory for marauding pirates.
"On indication of an attack an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, operating from the Seychelles was launched to investigate the incident," the EU naval mission said in a statement from its headquarters in Britain.
The ship was not registered with the Horn of Africa Maritime Security Centre, the statement said.