Lithuanian ship captured by pirates

VILNIUS- As announced by Limarko Laivininkystes Kompanija, five crew membersof the Saturnas ship have been taken hostage off the coast of Nigeria. Allmembers are healthy, but the company is continuing to negotiate the crew'srelease.

 The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta has not claimedresponsibility for the alleged attack on a Lithuanian cargo ship at theEscravos anchorage off the Nigerian coast on the night of August 5.

 According to the data of the Lithuanian foreign ministry, the capturedLithuanian nationals were taken in unknown direction by a motor boat. Vytautas Lygnugaris, CEO of LimarkoLaivininkystes Kompanija, told ELTA that the ship was carryingfrozen fish.

 "The ship was berthed and waiting for discharge in the morning.People armed with automatic arms approached the ship by boat. They did not tryto get anything from the ship; captured five people who were guarding the shipat that moment and left," said Lygnugaris.

The company has no information about the number of attackers or where thehostages are currently located.

According to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry,  this is the first time that Lithuania hasto independently rescue its nationals from pirates. There have been instancesof Lithuanian crew members being taken hostage, but all have been part of aninternational crew.