St. John's -- Dec. 22, 2008 -- The Maritime Administration of Antigua and Barbuda announced that the Antigua and Barbuda flagged vessel BOSPHORUS PRODIGY has been attacked and subsequently hijacked by armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden in the Arabian Sea.

Since the report of the hijacking, The Maritime Administration of Antigua and Barbuda has been in close and continuous contact with the vessel’s Management Company in Istanbul to monitor the situation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in St. John’s, Antigua along with the Permanent Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations and the International Maritime Organisation have also been fully informed of the developments.

The following, details events as reported to the Maritime Division of Antigua and Barbuda by the ICC-International Maritime Bureau (Piracy Reporting Centre):

- Late Monday December 15, 2008, an alarm message was received by the ICC-International Maritime Bureau (Piracy Reporting Centre) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from the Antigua and Barbuda motor vessel \"BOSPHORUS PRODIGY\" Off. No. 2822, Call Sign V 2 P C 4, stating that the Antigua and Barbuda flagged vessel had been attacked and subsequently hijacked in the Gulf of Aden by armed pirates in two speed boats coming from the South.

- On Tuesday December 16, 2008 at about 12:00 noon Easter European time, one Royal Navy helicopter flew above the vessel and learned from the vessel’s Master that seven (7) pirates were on board.

- Also on Tuesday via the vessel’s SSAS (Ship Security Alert System) which has been in operation continuously since the hijacking, it appeared that the vessel under the control of the pirates was proceeding towards the city of EYL on the East Coast of Somalia.

- On Tuesday December 17, 2008 we got this additional information: There are 11 crew members on board: 8 of Ukraninan origin and 4 of Turkish origin

The m/v BOSPHORUS PRODIGY whose registered owner is Naviblue Corporation of St. John’s, Antigua, is managed by Iskomarine Shipping and Trading Inc. of Istanbul, Turkey.