an american - owned tugboat from somalia together with its 16 member crew was hijacked approximately 11 am east on saturday in the firth of aden . the italian ambassador , pierandrea magistrati , wrote that " there is a boat that has been jetliner , i believe by somali pirates . " additionally , shona lowe , a spokeswoman at nato ' s isleworth maritime command center reported that the italian - flagged tugboats was hijacked this morning off of somali ' s east shore . lowe also indicated that italian government officials coupled with the company that owned the tugboat were trying to secure the release of the crew , ten of us were italians .
The Gulf of Aden is located along the northern coast of Somalia.