The ship had left Ashdod port and was en route to Thailand Tuesday when it was attacked in the Indian Ocean. No Israelis were aboard - 19 Turks and 2 Ukrainians were manning the ship, which was flying a Maltese flag.
The ship had delivered a cargo of sulfur for the Negev Star company two weeks ago, and then loaded up with $11 million worth of phosphates and potash.
There has been no contact with Frigia since it was hijacked. According to Turkish media, the ship is being directed toward a Somali port.
Naval piracy has experienced a resurgence in recent years, particularly at the hands of Somalians. Somalia experienced a political collapse in 1991, from which it has never recovered. A radical Islamic insurgency has swept the region, threatening to overtake Somalia. Citizens in the north have attempted to secede and create a new state -- Somaliland -- but have not yet succeeded.
Pirate killed in failed hijacking off Somalia, EU says - CNN.com
Israeli officials have stated that they would support the creation of Somaliland, which has democratic, non-radical aims.
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