Six days ago, Paul Chandler and his wife Rachel were snatched by Somali pirates when they were on their yacht near the Seychelles.   

The couple, both in their 50s, are believed to have left the island on their 38-foot yacht and were sailing towards Tanzania when they were captured on October 23.   

The couple were moved to a Singaporean container ship, the Kota Wajar, which was seized by Somali gunmen earlier this month.

Britain's ITV news managed to speak to Paul Chandler aboard the container ship by telephone.

[Paul Chandler, British Hostage]:
“We were in the water, 60 miles from Victoria in the Seychelles. Three boats came alongside, I was off watch, I was asleep and men with guns came aboard and then we were forced to sail six days (inaudible) towards Somalia. They kept asking for money and took everything of value on the boat, they haven't asked formally for money yet, but that's what they want, we know."

Pirates have plagued busy shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia for several years. Foreign warships from 16 nations are patrolling the area to try and prevent hijacks.

But the sea gangs now hunt for ships far into the Indian Ocean, as well as the strategic shipping lanes linking Europe to Asia through the Gulf of Aden.

Hundreds of sailors have been held captive by the Somali pirates over the past few years. Most have been released unharmed, once a ransom has been paid.