Tanzania, July 25 -- Dar es Salaam. A merchant ship hijacked in Yemeni waters in the Gulf of Aden last week is currently being held by Somali pirates, according to local sources in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region.

The vessel, identified as the MT Asana, is a Tanzanian-flagged fuel and chemical tanker.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a resident and self-described former pirate stated that there are 20 crew members on board the tanker, including eight German and 10 Filipino nationals.

A second resident in the coastal town of Caluula reported seeing pirates transporting food supplies out to the hijacked vessel.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed last week that a vessel boarded by unauthorised per...