Saturday, August 20, 2011

India News: Somali Pirates hijack tanker from the Oman port of Salalah


Tanker with 21 Indians aboard hijacked from Oman port

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MUMBAI: A merchant tanker carrying 21 Indian sailors on board was hijacked by Somali pirates from a port in Oman on Saturday. The 2010 built chemical-oil tanker-Fairchem Bogey-managed by Mumbai-based Anglo-Eastern Ship Management was hijacked from the port of Salalah when it was at anchorage and waiting to be berthed. 

Preliminary reports say eight pirates boarded the vessel around 6.30am and entered the engine control room. "The visibility at that time was poor. Though the Royal Oman Coast Guard tried to approach the vessel, the pirates threatened to kill the crew," said the company official. Later, the Royal Oman Navy tried to intercept the vessel, but the pirates opened fire. Officials informed that the pirates later sailed the vessel in the direction of Somalia. "There have been no reported injuries or deaths," said the official. 

In another instance, Indian Navy officials said they were monitoring a "suspicious" vessel around 250 nautical miles from the western coast since Saturday.
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