The Indian Ocean Explorer is captured by pirates "400 nautical miles (about 750 kilometres) off the southern Somali port of Kismayo, between the Seychelles and Kenya" with 24 crew aboard. (DPA 04/06/09)The Times says "The 115ft long vessel is a former oceanographic research ship converted for dive trips popular with well-heeled British and American tourists." It makes the hostage crew total as seven with tourists on the boat escaping capture. (Times, 04/03/09)
Passengers had disembarked just hours before the vessel was captured. (Telegraph, 04/02/09)
