A bulk cargo ship with 24 Chinese on board was hijacked by seven pirates in the central Arabian Sea, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the China sea rescue center.

It said the Panama-registered vessel, which it did not name, was hijacked at noon Beijing time (0400 GMT). It did not say who was responsible.

Somali pirates continue to outwit an international flotilla of warships patrolling the busy water routes that link Europe with Africa and Asia.

Typically the pirates anchor the vessels off their land base until a ransom is paid, at which point the vessel along with its crew and cargo is released. (Reuters)