MISC tanker hijacked off Somalia

A news that got me thinking twice about go sailing again .. added with how much I hate this job

A 32,169 dwt chemical tanker belonging to Malaysia’s MISC has been hijacked by armed pirates off the coast of Somalia.

The 1997-built Bunga Melati Dua, with 39 crew onboard, was carrying a cargo of palm oil from Indonesia to Rotterdam when the vessel was attacked in the Gulf of Aden.

MISC confirmed the vessel was taken on Tuesday although it did not admit the vessel had been hijacked until today.

In a statement the company said: "MISC regrets to inform that its chemical/palm oil tanker, MT Bunga Melati Dua, has been hijacked by unknown pirates at 1409 GMT on August 19."

The crew of 29 Malaysian and 10 Filpino seafarers managed to send a distress signal but Noel Choong of the Piracy Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur said there had been not direct contact with the crew.

He said an unidentified warship was searching for the tanker which is believed to be heading for Somalia waters.

The Bunga Melati Dua is the fourth vessel to be hijacked in the area in the past month. The Thai cargo vessel Thor Star and a Nigerian tug, Yenegoa Ocean, were seized last week. The bulker Stella Maris was attacked and hijacked on July 20.

The tanker is insured through the UK Mutual Steam Ship Assurance Association (Bermuda) and and classed by Lloyd’s Register.