Somali pirates have hijacked a UK-flagged chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden. The Kenya-based Seafarers Assistance Programme said the Ship, Saint James Park was captured last night while on its way to Thailand from Spain. Its 26 crew hail from Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Georgia, India, Turkey and the Philippines. The Ship which was carrying a cargo of chemicals used to make plastics, had issued a distress call in the night saying it had been attacked by pirates. Pirate attacks have been common off the Somali coast and international navies have been deployed to counter them.