NAIROBI, November 22 (Itar-Tass) -- Health of the captain of the Thai Union 3 ship seized by Somali pirates has seriously deteriorated, Andrew Mwangura, who directs the Seafarers’ Assistance Program and mediates negotiations between pirates and ship owners off the coast of Africa, told Itar-Tass on Sunday.

Pirates wounded the captain in his left hand on November 5. “He was taken to the Harare hospital and given medical aid. Yet it seems the medical aid was not quite professional. The captain’s health is deteriorating and causing serious concern,” he said.

Meanwhile, the pirates said nothing endangered the captain.

Thai Union 3 was seized 200 miles north the Seychelles Islands on October 29, on the way to a fishing zone. Twenty-three crewmembers are Russians, from the Kaliningrad region. There are also two Filipinos and one citizen of Ghana onboard.

The Russian Foreign Ministry is closely monitoring the Thai Union 3 situation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said earlier this month.

The vessel is staying offshore Somalia. “According to the ship owner, Samui Fishing Ltd., the crew has sufficient reserves of fuel, drinking water and food,” he said.

“The owner is holding negotiations with the pirates,” Nesterenko added.

“That is a delicate situation, and we hope it will end successfully. The Russian Foreign Ministry is monitoring the negotiations,” he said.

Nesterenko recommended Russian sailors to report their whereabouts.

“All Russian citizens hired for sailing abroad may inform the Russian Foreign Ministry or embassies about their whereabouts,” he said.

The recommendation was based on the ongoing attacks of sea pirates at commercial vessels offshore Somalia and problems experienced by sailors abandoned by ship owners at foreign ports.