BRUSSELS: A Chinese bulk carrier carrying 25 crew was hijacked in the Indian Ocean yesterday, the European Union (EU)'s anti-piracy naval mission reported.

The hijacking happened 550 nautical miles (1,000 km) northeast of the Seychelles and 700 nautical miles off the east coast of Somalia.

"On indication of an attack an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, operating from the Seychelles was launched to investigate the incident," the EU naval mission said from its headquarters in the UK. The ship was not registered with the Horn of Africa Maritime Security Center.