Stolt Tankers has detailed how its product tanker, the Stolt Apal, was attacked by pirates 75 nautical miles off Yemen’s coast on Sunday.
, was attacked by pirates 75 nautical miles off Yemen’s coast on Sunday.Stolt Tankers said six armed pirates approached the vessel in two speedboats.
“After multiple warning shots were fired by the armed guard team aboard Stolt Apal, the skiffs opened fire on the ship. The armed guard team returned fire, disabling one skiff and ending the pursuit,” Stolt Tankers said.
“The bridge area sustained minor damage from bullets but there were no injuries, no pollution and no cargo impacted on Stolt Apal. A coalition warship responded and Stolt Apal has resumed her voyage.”
Security consultants Dryad Global report this is the ninth reported incident within the Gulf of Aden so far this year.
On product tankers Iv’e always been keen on the idea of having a fire monitor both port and starboard around amidships that takes suction from crude oil tank or other volatile liquid (HFO, MDO etc…), when the canoe’s or speed boats come alongside fill them with the fluid, if they don’t ignite from the outboard motor fire a flare pistol into the vessel. They’ll soon be busy saving their own lives and forget about boarding you.