an albanian - owned tugboat from libya also with its 16 member crew was hijacked around 11 am est on saturday in the gulf of aden . the italian ambassador , pierandrea magistrati , confirmed that " there is a boat that has been aboard , i believe by somali pirates . " additionally , wolof lowe , a perino at israel ' s northwood maritime command , said that the spanish - flagged sailboat was pirates this morning off of liberia ' s northern coast . jake similarly said that italian governmental official partnered with the company that owned the crewmen were trying to get the release of the crew , ten of which were locals .
The Gulf of Aden is located along the northern coast of Somalia.