EU Naval Force Confirms Bunker Tanker and Crew Being Held Captive off Somalia

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday March 15, 2017

The EU Naval Force, which is currently operating off the coast of Somalia, has confirmed that it has received confirmation from the master of the Comoros-flagged bunker tanker Aris 13 that the ship and crew are being held captive by a number of suspected armed pirates in an anchorage off the north coast of Puntland near Alula.

"The master confirmed that armed men were on board his ship and they were demanding a ransom for the ship’s release," said the organisation on Tuesday.

"The EU Naval Force has now passed the information regarding the incident to the ship’s owners."

As Ship & Bunker reported yesterday, this is said to be the first time a commercial vessel has been successfully hijacked off Somalia's coast since 2012.

According to VesselsValue, the 1,800 DWT Aris 13 has a market value of $1.01 million.