Iranian Bulk Carrier Hijacked in Indian Ocean

Early this morning, an Iranian bulk carrier loaded with Brazilian sugar was hijacked in the eastern Indian Ocean. There were 23 crewmen onboard.

The Eglantine, loaded in Rio de Janeiro in late February, was seized off the southwest coast of India by alleged Somali pirates, according to NATO officials. Attacks this far and so east from Somalia is rare. Although counter-piracy forces have just renewed their vow to protect merchant shipping, they also state that the Indian Ocean is too massive to effectively patrol every inch of it.

The vessel has been identified as being operated by Iranian government shipping companies blacklisted by the U.S. The vessel was carrying over 63,000 tons of cargo when it left Brazil, the world's biggest sugar exporter.

Updates to this story will be made once they become available.