A Manx registered ship which has been taken hostage by pirates off the coast of West Africa has 24 crew on board.
The Greek owned Energy Centurion vessel was targeted at 3am local time yesterday while it was anchored a short distance from Lome.
The Isle of Man Ship Registry says it is not known how many pirates boarded the ship but they are believed to be armed after reports of a fire exchange with a patrol boat.
Crew on board, who are of Russian and Ukrainian origin, are not believed to have been harmed.
David Morter, the deputy director of the registry, said the pirates diverted the ship towards Nigeria and are after what the ship is carrying:
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