SUEZ, Egypt (AP) – The owner of one of the Egyptian fishing vessels whose crew overpowered pirates off the Somali coast says the boats are sailing directly to Egypt with eight captive pirates on board.

Mohammad Nasr says the 33 fishermen declined the Egyptian government’s offer to fly them back Friday from Yemen. He said Saturday they preferred to sail back home on their boats as a symbol of their courage.

Nasr’s boat, the Ahmed Samara, and another boat, Momtaz 1, were taken hostage four months ago by Somali pirates before the fishermen succeeded in killing two of their captors and taking the rest hostage. He said there are plans to try the pirates in Egypt courts.

Pirate attacks worldwide more than doubled in the first half of 2009, largely around Somalia.