Nairobi/Mogadishu  - The crew of a hijacked Ukrainian ship failed in a bid to escape their Somali captors Tuesday, according to media reports.

The BBC, quoting a pirate spokesman, reported that several crew members attacked two of their guards, but were quickly overpowered.

The MV Faina, which was captured in late September, is carrying a cargo of 33 tanks and other military equipment.

The ship was the pirates' highest-profile capture until the seizure of a Saudi supertanker carrying crude oil worth 100 million dollars in November.

Talks to free the MV Faina had apparently been going well and reports last week had said the ship could be freed within days. But no agreement has been reached yet. The pirates initially demanded 20 million dollars for the ship.

The Greek-owned MV Capt Stephanos, seized almost three months ago, was released on Tuesday and was sailing to Italy, the East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme in Kenya said.

Piracy has surged off Somalia in recent months as the ineffectual central government fights an increasingly desperate battle against insurgents on the ground.

Around 15 ships and 300 crew members are still in the hands of pirates.

The surge in piracy has prompted increased patrols along the Somali coast by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Russia, the US-led coalition forces, India and France.

The EU on Tuesday also formally launched operation "Atalanta" a year-long mission relying on up to six warships and two or three maritime patrol aircraft at any one time.

UN Special Representative for Somalia Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah welcomed the EU mission and said he hoped an international conference on piracy, taking place in the Kenyan capital Nairobi Wednesday and Thursday, would help find solutions to the problem.

"It is clear that the problem of piracy is linked to the need for peace and stability in Somalia itself," he said in a statement.

"We hope that this high level conference will lead to greater international attention and cooperation between countries, regional and international organizations," he added. (dpa)