Singapore: Pirates responsible for the hijacking of Malaysian product tanker Orkim Harmony have been apprehended this morning, after fleeing the vessel overnight.
Malaysian Navy chief, Abdul Aziz Jaafar, said that at 6:30am this morning eight Indonesian nationals were found by Vietnamese authorities near Tho Chu Island. They were on a lifeboat, and claimed that their fishing vessel sank.
Last night the hijackers fled the Orkim Harmony via the ship’s rescue boat, escaping Malaysian Navy vessels tailing the ship.
The 22 crew members are reported to be safe, with the exception of one crew member who was injured. Aziz said the injured seafarer is suffering from a gunshot wound to the thigh, from a shot fired by the hijackers.
Aziz said the Orkim Harmony is now headed to Kuantan Port and is expected to arrive at 2am tomorrow.
The 7,300 dwt vessel was hijacked on June 11, carrying around 50,000 barrels of RON95 gasoline. It was later spotted in Cambodian waters by a Royal Australian Air Force aircraft, and had changed its name to Kim Harmony.
