The Etel, a ship with 19 Ukrainian citizens on board, has been seized in the Libyan port of Benghazi, according to a statement posted on the Web site of the Maritime Bulletin.

"The Ukrainian ro-ro Etel arrived at the port on July 19 with a cargo of cars from Aqaba, Jordan. The vessel was docked to unload the cars but was soon seized by a dozen people claiming to represent the interests of a group of 25 Libyan businessmen," reads the statement.

According to the Maritime Bulletin, the Ukrainian and Libyan authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

"The vessel was seized without any court ruling and a respective warrant of arrest. A gang of 'defenders of interests' rushed to the ship and is holding it, threatening the lives and health of the 19 Ukrainian crewmembers of the Etel," reads the statement.