Bangkok: The cabinet on Monday approved the Defence Ministry's proposal for the navy to send vessels to help fight Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said.

He said vessels carrying 371 personnel will leave for Somalia early in September for a 98-day joint operation. He did not  say what kind of ships would be sent or how many.

"Piracy is a chronic problem in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia.  Pirates have hijacked and seized a large number of cargo ships and fishing boats, and this affects the economy of many countries.

"Many Thai boats have been hijacked," he said.

Source: seatrade asia