Svitzer Korsakov was on voyage from St Petersburg, where it had been built, to its intended deployment in Sakhalin in the Russian Far East, the company added.

“As a result of direct contact with the vessel it is understood that all six men are unharmed. Appropriate measures are in place to seek the safe release of the crew, and their families continue to receive support,” Svitzer’s statement went on.

“We ask that the sensitive nature of information surrounding this incident is considered and emphasize that discretion will be of the utmost importance to the safety of the crew.”

Svitzer Korsakov was at the time of writing reportedly anchored off the coast of the town of Eyl, in the breakway region of Puntland, whose claim to autonomy is not widely recognised by Somalia’s weak transitional government.

Abdirahman Mohamed Bangah, the entity’s information minister, requested international naval intervention.

“Puntland urges the US Navy and western marine forces along the Indian Ocean and Red Sea to rescue the hijacked Russian ship,” he said. ”Puntland is not in position to safeguard (its) long coastline.”

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