Pirate Hunter: Take Me To the Mothership

NAIROBI, Kenya (Reuters) -- Somali pirates attacked five ships in the past week in a sharp rise of banditry apparently orchestrated by a mysterious "mothership" prowling the busy Indian Ocean corridor, shipping experts said Friday.

Most vessels escaped, but one was commandeered, bringing to seven the total vessels and crews now being held captive by pirates plundering the coastline, the International Maritime Bureau said.

"Insecurity off the Somali coast has escalated sharply -- it is very worrying," Andrew Mwangura, program coordinator at the Kenyan Seafarers' Association, told Reuters. He said nine ships have been seized.

Mwangura said five vessels were attacked in the past week alone including the attempt last Saturday to board the Bahamas-registered Seabourn Spirit, which was carrying 151 Western tourists.

This is unbelievable. What am I, Robert Louis Stevenson?? Details here from CNN.