Liberian Bulker Sea-jacked off Oman by presumed Somali pirates

Liberian Bulker Sea-jacked off Oman by presumed Somali pirates (ecop-marine)

MV VOC DAISY was seized around 06h05 UTC in the morning of April 21, 2010 at position 16:45N-057:18E), the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme (SAP) reported. EU NAVFOR and NATO confirmed the incident.

The Panama-flagged, Liberian-owned bulk carrier of 47,183 dead weight tonnes, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, 190 nautical miles East South East of Salalah, Oman.

The bulker was registered with the Maritime Security Centre Horn Of Africa (MSCHOA) and heading west from Ruwais, U.A.E, making for the eastern rendezvous point of the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC), for onward transit through the Suez Canal. She was 280 miles from the IRTC when she was sea-jacked.

The vessel is owned by Middleburg Properties Ltd, Liberia, and operated by the Greek company Samartzis Maritime Enterprises.

The 21 men all-Filipino crew was able to raise the alarm before the four armed pirates, carrying three AK47s and one RPG, stormed on board and cut their lines of communication.

Reportedly the crew is, however, said to be all right, given the circumstances and the vessel is now commandeered to the Somali coast.

- for further information on the marine and maritime situation around the Horn of Africa, provided by ECOTERRA Intl, see: www.australia.to