Pirates continue to seize cargo ships in the Gulf of Aden, the latest targets being Dutch and German vessels.

The European Union's Maritime Security Centre reports that a small Dutch cargo ship carrying a crew of eight was hijacked Thursday morning, local time. It is carrying a cargo of coke and is now headed for the Somali coast.

On Tuesday, a bulk carrier carrying 10,000 tons of rice was seized about 120 nautical miles north of the port of Boosaaso. The centre said a helicopter from a nearby international naval force was dispatched to the scene but arrived too late to prevent the hijacking. The German-owned carrier has a crew of 11.

However, a Greek tanker fended off an attack on Wednesday by evading pirates and ramming the skiff in which they were sailing. The centre reports that the skiff capsized but seven suspects were captured by the Spanish warship, Marqués de la Ensenada.

The Fairplay shipping news website reports that pirates released the cargo ship Almezaan, seized on May 2, without paying a ransom, after they learned the ship had been chartered by Mogadishu traders.