A crewmember onboard the hijacked heavylift carrier Beluga Nomination has been executed by Somali pirates, according to the Round Table of international shipping associations. Several crewmembers were taken aside for “punishment” after the rescue attempt by the Seychelles’ Coastguard failed.
Two crewmembers managed to flee in a lifeboat and one pirate were killed during the counterattack. The Danish warship Esbern Snare rescued the two crew members. The two men rescued told Esbern Snare’s crew that one crew member was killed during the attack and that several pirates were also killed. The information has not been confirmed.
”This latest particularly atrocious action appears to represent a fundamental shift in the behaviour of Somali pirates. The cold-blooded murder of an innocent seafarer means that ship owners and their crews will be re-evaluating their current determination to ensure that this vital trade route remains open – over 40% of the world’s seaborne oil passes through the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. The shipping industry will be looking at all possible options, including alternative routes, which could have a dramatic effect on transport costs and delivery times”, says the Round Table of international shipping associations in a press release.
The Round Table of international shipping associations consists of Bimco, the International Chamber of Shipping, Intertanko and International Transport Workers’ Federation.
The 2006-built Beluga Nomination is owned by Beluga Shipping.