Hijacked supertanker 'anchored off Somalia'

A Saudi supertanker hijacked by pirates with a $100 million oil cargo was thought to have anchored off Somalia yesterday, the shipping arm of state oil giant Saudi Aramco said.

"All 25 crew members on board are believed to be safe," Vela International said in a statement. "At this time, Vela is awaiting further contact from the pirates in control of the vessel."

The Sirius Star is the biggest vessel ever hijacked. It was seized in the Indian Ocean off east Africa on Sunday in the boldest attack by pirates operating from lawless Somalia.