CNN News, By the CNN Wire Staff, February 19, 2011
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- The yacht is hijacked in the Indian Ocean
- U.S. officials say they are monitoring the situation
- The yacht was en route from India to Oman
(CNN) -- Somali pirates hijacked a yacht with four Americans onboard in the Indian Ocean, U.S. military officials said Saturday.
The yacht seized Friday is owned by Jean and Scott Adam, according to a nongovernmental group that monitors piracy.
"If the owners are onboard, it would be a sad log for the couple on their seven-year world journey," said the group, Ecoterra International.
U.S. military officials said they are monitoring the situation.
"We have been aware for some time," said Bob Prucha, a spokesman for the United States Central Command.
RELATED TOPICS
The yacht was en route from India to Mina Raysut, the industrial port of Salalah, Oman, according to Ecoterra.
Piracy has flourished off the coast of Somalia, which has not had an effective government for two decades. In April 2009, pirates seized a U.S.-flagged ship off the coast of Somalia.
Navy snipers opened fire on pirates holding the American cargo-ship captain hostage, killing three pirates.
One pirate was arrested and the captain of the Maersk Alabama was rescued. U.S. forces moved to rescue Capt. Richard Phillips after seeing a pirate aiming a weapon on his back, officials said at the time.
The Somali man arrested was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for acts related to high-seas piracy.
CNN's David McKenzie contributed to this report.
S/V Quest, reported hijacked by Somali pirates Friday, had four
Americans aboard, reportedly including owners Jean and Scott Adam,
who were sailing around the world.
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