AsiaOperationsPiracy

Another product tanker hit by pirates leaving Singapore

Singapore: The Southeast Asian piracy watchdog ReCAAP sent out an alert on Sunday, warning that another product tanker has been plundered.

The Singapore-flagged Ocean Energy left the Lion Republic on Saturday morning bound for Myanmar. At 2130 hrs on Saturday eight perpetrators armed with guns boarded the vessel whilst it was heading up the Straits of Malacca.

The perpetrators ordered the vessel to anchor off Port Dickson where a barge came alongside. Whilst the master and crew were locked away, 2,023 tons of gas oil was discharged to the barge.

The perpetrators left the vessel at about 0430 hrs on Sunday morning , after damaging the ship’s communication equipment and took away the ship’s Iridium phone, the crew’s cash and mobile phones.

The ship returned to its home port and all crew was reported safe and not injured.

This was the fifth fuel siphoning case reported in the region since January this year.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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