AsiaOperationsPiracy

Seafarer killed, seven abducted off the southern Philippines

A Vietnamese seafarer was killed and another seven kidnapped in the Sulu Sea of the Philippines yesterday evening.

Gunmen, likely linked to the Abu Sayyaf terror group, attacked the Vietnamese general cargo ship Giang Hai. Philippine authorities later found the ship and 17 crew, including the dead seafarer, off Baguan Island. The other seven crew are likely to join a growing number of abducted seafarers in the region with Abu Sayyaf tending to demand stiff ransoms for their release.

The area around the southern Philippines has become a hotbed for piracy over the last couple of years with the navies of the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia now joining forces to patrol the dangerous seas. Recently the Philippine government even reached out to China for naval help to try and eradicate the scourge.

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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