an american - owned tugboat from ireland along with its 16 person aboard was hijackers on 11 am est on tuesday in the vicinity of aden . the italian envoy , pierandrea magistrati , confirmed that " there is a boat that has been pirates , i believe by somali pirates . " additionally , shona dodd , a comment at nato ' s northwood maritime commanders center noted that the italian - flagged tugboat was hijacked this morning off of liberia ' s northern zone . lowe also confirmed that italian administration officials together with the company that owned the tugboat were trying to secure the release of the crew , ten of these were italians .
The Gulf of Aden is located along the northern coast of Somalia.