A Greek bulk carrier that was thought to have been hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of Yemen on November 22 2009, was said to be safe and en route to Pakistan, Greek daily Kathimerini reported on November 23 2009.

The Red Sea Spirit, sailing under a Panama flag was reportedly attacked and boarded by armed men late on November 19 in the Gulf of Aden some 36 nautical miles off the port of Balhalf, though news about the capture was not published until November 22.

When authorities made inquiries, a Greek merchant marine spokesperson said that the company which manages the vessel, Sekur Holdings, based in Piraeus, Greece, was unavailagle for comment and that it had not confirmed that the ship had been seized.
 
Kathimerini then reported that pirates had attempted to board the vessel, but through superior seamanship and a series of evading maneuvers, the Red Sea Spirit had managed to avoid capture and was currently en route to Karachi with a shipment of cement. All 22 Filipino crew on board were reported to be alive and well.
 
The ICC International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Centre said continuous piracy attacks around the world were a growing menace in the merchant marine industry, with 324 cases of hijacking for 2009 until October 20.
 
Somali pirates alone were responsible for 174 attacks on vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the east coast of Somalia in that period, accounting for 35 vessels hijacked and 587 crew captured, Reuters said.