hijacked vessel carry acid

This problem is going to get worse until someone steps up to the plate and offers to fix Somalia.

STOLT TANKER HIJACKED

Tuesday, 11 November 2008

THE 33,209 dwt products tanker Stolt Venture has become the latest ship to be hijacked by Somali based pirates. The ship's charterers, Stolt Tankers BV, issued a statement this morning confirming reports of the hijacking. It says that the vessel was seized while transiting the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia yesterday yesterday. It says: “We understand that the vessel was within the recognised Coalition corridor at the time of the seizure.”

The company adds: “There has been limited communication between the master and the ship manager and it has been confirmed that the fully Filipino crew is safe and accounted for. Stolt is in close communication with the vessel’s managers and owners and will do all it can to ensure the timely and safe return of the crew on board.”

The Stolt Strength was bound for Kandla on passage from Dakar with a cargo of phosphoric acid. Meanwhile, Indian Newspaper The Hindu reports, the Indian Navy has intervened to stop pirates boarding the Indian-flag, Great Eastern-owned bulk carrier Jag Arnav.

The Hindu quote naval sources as saying: "An armed helicopter with marine commandos was launched from the naval warship to intervene and prevent the pirates from boarding and hijacking the merchant vessel. This timely and successful intervention led to the pirates aborting their attempt."

As with other interventions by warships, it appears the Indian Navy did not try to sink or capture the pirate vessels. The ICC International Maritime Bureau is urging governments to set rules of engagement that allow warships to act robustly against pirate craft and especially the mother ships, typically large fishing vessels.