This just in from the Office of Naval Intelligence:
***3rd Update***
VESSEL IS HEADING NORTHEAST TOWARDS THE ARABIAN SEA IN POSITION 10-58N 053-23E AT A SPEED OF 7.6 KTS.
M/T LIQUID VELVET is likely conducting mothership operations in hopes of hijacking new vessels. Mariners are advised to remain vigilant with their counter-piracy measures and be on the look out for this vessel. Report any abnormal circumstances or events per best management practices.
Original: The Somali-pirated M/T LIQUID VELVET is currently underway off the coast of Somalia on a north/northeast course possibly heading toward the Gulf of Aden. ONI believes pirates with weapons and an attack skiff are aboard the vessel.
At this time, ONI cannot confirm if this vessel is moving to another pirate anchorage, or is transiting out to sea (Gulf of Aden or Arabian Sea) to conduct pirate attacks with the M/T Liquid Velvet as a mothership.
Regardless, mariners are advised to remain vigilant with the counter-piracy measures and be on the lookout for this vessel. Report any abnormal circumstances or events per BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.
The MT Liquid Velvet was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on October 31 as she transited from Suez to India. The vessel’s crew of 22 were all taken hostage. It also came about that the vessel had a security detail of just one man – who was unarmed at that – at the time she was taken. Additional rumors were later started about a fight that broke out between the crew of the M/T Liquid Velvet and pirates, resulting in the death of 6 pirates. Those reports have not been confirmed.
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