(Update) Pirates Hijack Japan-Operated Ship off Kenya

Tokyo, Oct. 11 (Jiji Press)--Pirates have hijacked a cargo vessel
operated by Japan's NYK-Hinode Line Ltd. off the coast of Kenya, it was
learned Monday.
The Panama-registered vessel, "Izumi," sent an emergency message at
around 8:50 a.m. Sunday local time (5:50 a.m. GMT) in waters some 70
kilometers southeast of the eastern Kenya city of Mombassa, according to
officials of the transport ministry and the subsidiary of Nippon Yusen K.K.
<9101>.
The shipping company thereafter lost communications with the
14,162-ton freighter, which is carrying 17,000 tons of steel coil.
But a Danish warship belonging to the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization spotted the Izumi heading toward Somalia in the Indian Ocean at
around 6 a.m. and received a message over the radio from its captain that
the ship was hijacked by pirates.
A French military ship is watching the Izumi off the coast of
Somali capital Mogadishu, the officials also said.
The Japanese government has set up a liaison office at the prime
minister's official residence to collect further information.
The Izumi left the Kimitsu port, Chiba Prefecture, on Sept. 12 for
Mombassa. All of its 20 crew members are Philippine nationals.
According the ministry, a total of 129 vessels were attacked by
pirates from the beginning of this year to Tuesday last week. Of them, 19
have still been hijacked.