Pirates on Sunday fired on a cargo ship operated by Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines in the waters 900 km east off Somalia, local media reported on Monday, citing the transport ministry.

None of the 18 crew members aboard, all Philippine nationals, were wounded when pirates in two boats fired on the ship at around 10:00 p.m. Tokyo time (1300 GMT), hitting the windows and ceiling of the steering room.

The ship, carrying cargoes of cars en route to Mombasa, a seaport in Southeastern Kenya, got clear of the pirates some 40 minutes later.

(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2009)