an american - owned tugboat from italy along with its 16 member crew was hijacked around 11 am est on saturday in the gulf of aden . the italian ambassador , pierandrea magistrati , reported that " there is a boat that has been hijacked , i believe by somali pirates . " previously , shona lowe , a ann at nato ' s reigate naval command center reported that the italian - freighter tugboat was hijacked this noon off of somalia ' s central coast . lowe also confirmed that italian government operatives serving with the entities that operated the tugboat were trying to securing the freedom of the crew , nine of which were italians .
The Gulf of Aden is located along the northern coast of Somalia.