Pirates strike three times off Somalian coast

Pirates seized their third ship in a day off the coast of Somalia today.

The German-operated cargo ship was seized at about 10am Irish time in the Gulf of Aden off the Somalian coast.

The hijacking came hours after a Japanese-operated tanker and an Iranian ship off the coast of Somalia were hijacked in the same area.

So far seven ships have been hijacked in the important African shipping lane since June 20.