Mumbai (PTI): The hijacked Jordanian cargo ship with 10 Indians among its crew was being held at a coastal village about 600 kms north of Somalian capital Moghadishu on Tuesday amid reports that the Somali pirates will be attacked if calls to release the vessel and crew were ignored.

According to reports received here on Tuesday, the ship 'MV Victoria' was traced to Murgane village and the 21-member crew including the ten Indians were safe. Further details are awaited and it was immediately not known if any ransom demand was made.

Local elders involved in mediation efforts were quoted as saying that Somali Islamist insurgents will attack pirates holding the Jordan-flagged vessel if they do not release the ship and all the crew.

There were reports that a team of elders was planning to hold talks with the hijackers to obtain the unconditional release of the ship and its crew. The US Navy has also reportedly offered help in securing the release.

The ship, which left Mumbai early this month carrying humanitarian aid, was hijacked about 55 kms near Moghadishu on Saturday in a string of attacks off the lawless Somalian coast, according to Director General of Shipping. 4,200 tonnes of bagged sugar were being taken to war-ravaged Somalia hit by food shortages.

News of the vessel being traced came even as Indian Navy ships were put on high alert. Officials of the Kenya-based East Africa Seafarers' Association were also involved in efforts to locate the ship.

Destroyer INS Delhi has been put on stand-by and is ready to sail at a moment's notice, Navy sources told PTI.

Sea pirates in three speed boats with heavy arms and guns hijacked the ship which had 21 crew members. Besides the 10 Indians there were two Burmese, two Bangladeshis, three Kenyans and two Tanzanians.