Port of Salalah, Oman, (c) Robert Almeida
Until recently, pirates have roamed around the open oceans looking for their next target, however they took a bold step in a rather new, and unsettling direction over the weekend.
While at anchor in the southern Omani port of Salalah, the Fairchem Bogey, a chemical tanker managed by Mumbai-based Angl0-Eastern Ship Management, was boarded by pirates and their crew taken hostage.
A report from the TImes of India stated this morning:
Eight pirates boarded the vessel around 6.30am and entered the engine control room. “The visibility at that time was poor. Though the Royal Oman Coast Guard tried to approach the vessel, the pirates threatened to kill the crew,” said the company official. Later, the Royal Oman Navy tried to intercept the vessel, but the pirates opened fire. Officials informed that the pirates later sailed the vessel in the direction of Somalia. “There have been no reported injuries or deaths,” said the official.
Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update
Essential maritime and offshore news, insights, and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox
What (Acting) Secretary Hung Cao’s First Five Months Tell Us About the Job Ahead By Bruce Kimbrell (Policy Op-Ed) President Trump has nominated the Honorable Hung Cao to become the...
Iran said it will announce a new restricted zone in the Gulf in the coming days, along with maps of a new shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, as a weekend exchange of strikes on shipping sent oil prices higher on Monday.
Iran condemned the United States' new economic sanctions on Friday as "state terrorism," while its supreme leader said he was banning acts that could harm "social cohesion" amid concern that more financial pain could spark unrest at home.
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
