The report also described the Sirius Star -- with woeful defences, restricted manoeuvrability and speed capacities owing to its 319,000-tonne oil cargo -- as a lumbering prey for two speedboats carrying well-armed pirates also applying the element of surprise by operating well out of their normal range.

The Somali pirates approached the tanker, the length of three football fields, at 0648 GMT Saturday and were able to climb aboard using the simplest of rope and hook techniques.

At 0704 GMT, Britain's Maritime Component Command centre in Bahrain reported that the tanker had been taken by the pirates.

At 1534 GMT, Britain's Maritime Trade Organisation in Dubai reported that 10 pirates, carrying Kalashnikov rifles and rocket-launchers, were in control of the giant ship.

According to the latter organisation, the first batch of pirates were able to slow the tanker down sufficiently for their colleagues to board easily.

A 25-million-dollar ransom was demanded Thursday -- with a 10-day deadline -- by one of the pirates on board in a telephone conversation with AFP, amid calls for tougher action to end threats to one of the world's key maritime routes.

AFP