An Italian oil tanker has been hijacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean, news reports in Rome quoted the Italian coast guard as saying Tuesday.
According to the Italian Marine Corps, the captain tried to evade capture by speeding up, suddenly changing gear and firing powerful water jets on the pirates' skiff.
At least five pirates fired rockets and machine guns at the 266-meter Savina Caylin and they were believed to have seized control of the tanker, said Cosimo Nicastro, captain of an Italian coast guard frigate.
No one was injured in the attack, which took place at about 0625 GMT some 500 miles (800 kilometers) off the coast of India and some 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) off the coast of Somalia, he said.
The Italian Navy frigate was heading to the region and was expected to reach there in two days.
The ship had a crew of five Italians and 17 Indians, and was owned by Naples-based Fratelli D'Amato SpA shipbuilders.