Pirates seize Norwegian tanker off Malagasy coast

A Somali pirate sits on shore January 7 in northeastern Somalia. Captured Greek vessel the MV Filitsa is in the background.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Pirates hijack Norwegian tanker UBT Ocean off the coast of Madagascar
They are steering the ship toward Somalia, the ship's owner says
Captain of tanker reported that pirates had come aboard on Friday
Ship was carrying fuel destined for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and has 21 crew members

RELATED TOPICS

(CNN) -- Pirates have hijacked a Norwegian tanker off the coast of Madagascar and are steering the ship toward Somalia, the ship's owner said.

The captain of the UBT Ocean called the technical director for Broevigtank, the company that owns the ship, and reported that pirates had come aboard Friday, said Svenn Pederson, CEO of Broevigtank.

Contact with the captain has since been lost. But the company has been tracking the vessel.

Pederson said the ship was carrying fuel destined for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and has 21 crew members aboard.