(CNN) -- A Norwegian shipping firm has ordered its vessels to avoid the waters off the Horn of Africa and criticized governments for failing to curb a wave of piracy after Somalia-based hijackers seized their largest prize to date. Image taken by the U.S. Navy of pirates leaving a captured merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden. The decision by the maritime company Odfjell SE means its 90-plus ships will take the additional time and expense to sail around the southern tip of Africa instead of going through the Suez Canal, a shortcut for mariners for nearly a century and a half.
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Odfjell: Ships will take additional time, expense to sail around south of Africa
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Company to sail through Gulf of Aden only if contractually obliged to
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Pirate attacks have increased sharply in perilous Gulf of Aden region this year
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Multinational naval force has been patrolling the area to provide protection
In its statement, the @placeholder company said it was "frustrated" by what it called the "limited interest" shown in securing the high seas.