Amman  - Jordan-flagged ship Victoria may have been "exposed to acts of piracy" off the Somali coast, Jordanian Transport Minister Alaa Batayneh said Saturday.

"Contacts were cut off this morning with Victoria, which carries the Jordanian flag, as it sailed 35 kilometres off the Somali coast. We believe it was exposed to acts of piracy," Batayneh said.

The vessel, which is owned by a United Arab Emirates company, was sailing from India to Mogadishu with 4,200 tons of sugar on board.

The ship has a crew team of 10-12 sailors from various nations including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Tanzania.

"The Ministries of Transport and Foreign Affairs are coordinating with the concerned authorities to ensure the release of the ship and the crew members," Batayneh said.

The Jordanian authorities were establishing contacts with the Danish embassy in Mogadishu to follow up on the event in compliance with the provisions of an agreement that ensures Danish protection of Jordan-flagged ships sailing near Somali coasts or docking at Somali ports, he added. (dpa)