A WFP-chartered cargo ship escaped an attack by pirates on Saturday after delivering food aid in southern Somalia, Kenya's maritime official confirmed here.

The World Food Program (WFP)-contracted ship, MV Victoria, had just delivered a cargo when the pirates struck at Merka port in Somalia's town of Kismayo, Andrew Mwangura, coordinator of the Mombasa-based Seafarers Assistance Program told Xinhua by telephone.

"The cargo ship was attacked by Somali Pirates off-Merka port today at around 12:05 p.m. MV Victoria sailed from Merka port for Dar-es-Salaam after its discharge operation of WFP relief food completed," said Mwangura.

"While en route to Kismayo, pirates attacked her with small and heavy guns. Luckily, it escaped the attack and returned to original port of discharge(Merka)," he added.

The maritime official said the WFP and vessel owners are very concerned about the safety of the crew whose number and nationalities, he said, have not been established.

"Having heard its SOS signal by both MV Amina and Merka port authority, immediately the local WFP contractor send two armed boats to rescue the vessel from the pirates and at last the vessel is in safe hands. During the operation one man from the local WFP contractor was wounded and later on died in Merka hospital," Mwangura said.

"There is no apparent damage at vessel and all the crew are safe and sound, as the master of the vessel is waiting for an instruction from his company."

"The local WFP contractor is arranging two armed boats to escort the vessel upon departure till Kismayo and receipt of instructions from its company."

Piracy has become rampant off the coast of Somalia. Pirate attacks on ships off the Somali coast have intensified since March this year along the Somali waters described by global maritime body as one of the dangerous in the world.

The International Maritime Board (IMB) said more than 10 attacks have been carried out in the Somali waters since the start of this year.

Source: Xinhua