Asia/Pacific News
Tanker Feared Hijacked After Departing Singapore Laden with MGO
A tanker, along with its 15 crew, has gone missing off the coast of Malaysia a day after departing Singapore laden with marine gas oil, according to an alert by the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP)'s Information Sharing Centre (ISC).
"It should be noted that Danai 4 may have been renamed, repainted, and changed of its IMO number (8613530)," ReCAAP ISC said in the alert.
According to the alert, the owner of Thailand-registered Danai 4 last had contact with the vessel on Thursday, October 10, 2013 around 2000 hours, when it was approximately 17.78 nautical miles northeast of Tanjung Penawar, Malaysia.
Danai 4 departed Singapore on October 9, 2013 and was scheduled to anchor off Vietnam for transferring of fuel on October 12, 2013.
Regional maritime authorities including the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) have been called in to assist in locating the vessel and her crew.
ReCAAP ISC has requested all vessels to be on the look out for Danai 4, and any sightings should be reported to the nearest coastal State.
Bunker pirates were responsible for a number of incidents in the area around this time last year, including those involving Zafirah, MT Scorpio and MT Sea Jade, MT Bintag, Merlion Dua, and Mt Arowana United.
Reports earlier this year suggested pirates are increasingly targeting MGO for theft and resale in Southeast Asia.
