Pirates seize ship with 19 Chinese
Source: Agencies |
June 29, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A SINGAPORE-registered ship with 19 Chinese sailors onboard was seized yesterday by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, where Somali pirates have menaced ocean traffic, the China Marine Rescue Center said yesterday afternoon.
The container cargo ship Golden Blessing was on its way from Saudi Arabia to India when it was boarded near East Africa, the center said.
"Currently, a rescue operation is under way," it said.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said the 19 Chinese sailors hijacked by pirates were reported to be safe.
The authority said that it received reports around noon local time that Golden Blessing was hijacked.
"There are 19 crew, all Chinese nationals, on board the vessel. The crew were reported to be safe," the authority said in a statement.
Somali attacks
The maritime authority said it is working with government agencies and the ship owner, and is monitoring the situation closely.
It added that Golden Blessing is owned by Golden Pacific International Holdings Pte Ltd and is chartered out to Shanghai Dingheng Shipping Co Ltd.
Somali pirates have made millions of dollars in ransoms by hijacking ships off their country's coast and have extended their range using mother ships, sometimes seized vessels, from which to launch attacks with smaller craft.
Chinese sailors have been caught before by pirates around the Gulf of Aden. In December, the crew of a Chinese ship hijacked by Somali pirates in mid-October was safely rescued.
China is among the nations participating in a multi-national effort against pirates who use Somalia as a base.
The container cargo ship Golden Blessing was on its way from Saudi Arabia to India when it was boarded near East Africa, the center said.
"Currently, a rescue operation is under way," it said.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said the 19 Chinese sailors hijacked by pirates were reported to be safe.
The authority said that it received reports around noon local time that Golden Blessing was hijacked.
"There are 19 crew, all Chinese nationals, on board the vessel. The crew were reported to be safe," the authority said in a statement.
Somali attacks
The maritime authority said it is working with government agencies and the ship owner, and is monitoring the situation closely.
It added that Golden Blessing is owned by Golden Pacific International Holdings Pte Ltd and is chartered out to Shanghai Dingheng Shipping Co Ltd.
Somali pirates have made millions of dollars in ransoms by hijacking ships off their country's coast and have extended their range using mother ships, sometimes seized vessels, from which to launch attacks with smaller craft.
Chinese sailors have been caught before by pirates around the Gulf of Aden. In December, the crew of a Chinese ship hijacked by Somali pirates in mid-October was safely rescued.
China is among the nations participating in a multi-national effort against pirates who use Somalia as a base.
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