THE International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has warned small tankers to keep a sharp lookout for pirates in the South China Sea, following a number of hijackings, reported London's Tanker Operator.
"These incidents are not common, which makes the situation even more alarming", said the IMB. "The pirates appear to be interested in oil products, such as diesel oil.
One of the hijacked tankers was released quickly possibly because the pirates realised it had the wrong type of cargo," said an IMB spokesman.
More than six known cases of coastal tankers being hijacked for their cargoes of diesel, or gas oil, have been reported since April, primarily in the South China Sea off Bintan and Bintulu islands.
The latest hijackings appear to follow a pattern, where armed pirates seize a small tanker and transfer its cargo to large bunker barges, or other small tankers in a ship-to-ship operation, the IMB said.
In some cases, navigational equipment are destroyed but the crew are unharmed. Once the cargo has been transferred, the pirates release the vessels.
The Information Fusion Centre (IFC), part of the Singapore Navy, has asked all vessels in the region to keep a lookout for the Indonesia registered 1,832-dwt Arsenal.
The ship's owner, Global Marine Transport, said that they lost contact with the Arsenal, along with the accompanying tug Pawai, 12 nautical miles off Malaysia.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) confirmed that 700,000 litres of diesel worth over US$434,000 was taken from the 4,999-dwt Ai Maru by pirates off Malaysia.
MMEA also said that they were investigating the alleged involvement of the 13 Thai crewmen and the Indonesian master, according to local newswires.
The agency said that there were a number of other ships under the same company name that were reported to have been robbed, the last being on April 22, 2013 off Port Klang, local sources reported.
PIRACY
29 June 2014 - 20:58
Small tankers warned to guard against specialist oil product pirates
THE International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has warned small tankers to keep a sharp lookout for pirates in the South China Sea, following a number of hijackings, reported London's Tanker Operator.
PIRACY
29 June 2014 - 20:58
Small tankers warned to guard against specialist oil product pirates
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