Pirates have hijacked an Italian cargo ship with 18 crew members off the coast of Oman.

The Naples-based ship owner, Marnarvi, says pirates boarded and seized the ship Enrico Ievoli early Tuesday morning in the Arabian Sea.

The company said the crew included six Italians, five Ukrainians and seven Indians. The vessel was carrying nearly 16,000-tons of caustic soda and set sail from the United Arab Emirates bound for the Arabian Sea.

The Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said he was following the hijacking closely.

The seizure comes just days after Somali pirates released an Italian oil tanker hijacked in February in the Indian Ocean after reportedly receiving a ransom payment.

At least six other vessels are currently being held by Somali pirates.