Pirates attack chemical, bulk ships

Pirates attack chemical, bulk ships    Several ships have been hijacked this week by Somali pirates, the European Naval Force Somalia (EUNAVFOR) reported.
   On Dec. 28 in the afternoon, U.K.-flagged chemical tanker St. James Park, owned by Philbox Ltd., was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden while it was within the International Recognized Transit Corridor, a section of the gulf regularly patrolled by warships and planes to protect merchant ships. The ship, with a 16-person crew, sent a distress message and was heading towards the Somali Coast. The ship was not in a group transit when it was attacked.
   During the evening of Dec. 28, a Panamanian-flag bulk carrier, the Navios Apollon, was hijacked about 200 nautical miles east of the Seychelles. The 52,073-deadweight-ton ship has a crew of 18 and was destined for Thailand. The Navios Apollon is owned by Navios Maritime Partners L.P. of Piraeus, Greece. The ship, which is being monitored by EUNAVFOR aircraft, was located about 180 miles to the north of the Seychelles and heading towards the Somali coast. Navios Maritime Partners was formed in 2007 by Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. Both companies are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.