Somali pirates have hijacked a Singaporean flagged and owned ship with 25 crew members off the Kenyan coastal town of Malindi, European Union anti-piracy mission has confirmed.

EU Naval Force Somalia spokesman Paddy O'Kennedy said the product tanker MV GEMINI was pirated approximately 180 nautical miles east of Malindi in Kenya. O'Kennedy said the 20,989 tonne, Singaporean flagged and owned vessel was on its way to Mombasa, Kenya from Kuala Tanjung in Malaysia when it was attacked.

"The MV Gemini has a crew of 25. There is no further information about the crew at present," he said.

The MV GEMINI was registered with Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) and was reporting to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).