Pirates hijack Lankans

2 August 2010 09:18 am - 11 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Somali pirates hijacked a Panama flagged merchant vessel early today which included crew members from Sri Lanka, the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) in Somalia said in a statement this afternoon.

The MV SUEZ reported being under small arms fire from a pirate attack and minutes later she reported pirates on board. After notification of the attack, attempts were made to make contact with the MV SUEZ but to no avail, EU NAVFOR said.

MV SUEZ was travelling in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) when attacked. Immediately after the first report a helicopter was directed to the ship but pirates had already taken over the command of the vessel.

The MV SUEZ, deadweight 17, 300 tonnes with a crew of 23 (Egypt, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India Nationalities), is a Panama flagged merchant vessel with a cargo of cement bags. EU NAVFOR is monitoring the situation.

EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP) and vessels of AMISOM, and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy. (Daily Mirror online)

An undated picture released by Red Sea Navigation Co. shows the MV Suez, a Panama freighter with 23 crew from Egypt, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka that Somali pirates seized on August 2, 2010 in the Gulf of Aden. Early in the morning, the freighter indicated it was captured “under small arms fire from a pirate attack and minutes later she reported pirates on board,” the European Union NAVFOR Somalia mission said in a statement. A helicopter was despatched “but pirates had already taken over the command of the vessel,” it added of the 17,300-tonne freighter. MANDATORY CREDIT - AFP PHOTO

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Comments - 11

bugger Monday, 02 August 2010 10:17 AM

Send our very own super hero(WW) to the rescue.

Piyadasa Monday, 02 August 2010 10:59 AM

Send our real hero SF and his army to concur the battle with pirates. Let him save the world too. Then put him back to prison.

DeAmO Monday, 02 August 2010 11:08 AM

Pls do not ridicule this grave situation... These men are professional seafarers who make a HUGE contribution to the world economy! Tell me... If you were one of the crew, would you be hoping for WW to 'come to the rescue'? Just for the amusement for a few like yourself?? Piracy is a pressing issue... and if vessels are not safe in the 'Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor' either, I think the fight must be taken "TO" the pirates!

Sanath R Monday, 02 August 2010 11:34 AM

The hijacking of vessels by Somali pirates has really got out of hand and the maritime industry in the region is at stake. Just wonder why the super power nations cannot take those pirates to task by, may be attacking their bases to get the ocean safe and free.

thusi Monday, 02 August 2010 12:26 PM

Bugger, your name says it all.....

Alipola Monday, 02 August 2010 12:38 PM

why-so-SERIOUS??

Obsever Monday, 02 August 2010 01:07 PM

Ban ki MOON, how about an advisory panel for an important issue like for the whole world rather than time wasting on trivial issues.

Bird Eye Monday, 02 August 2010 01:17 PM

Why Sri Lankans always? Are they been chosen to work in that area deliberately?

Ossan Salam - Qatar Monday, 02 August 2010 01:56 PM

Is world policemen sleeping?

David Monday, 02 August 2010 02:53 PM

The ship is carrying cement cargo. That is not a worthy cargo to demand for ransom unless the ship is worth so many millions. So expect this case to be delayed and our seaman families has to worry about them for long time.
God must do something for their quick release.

TERRENCE B. DE SILVA Tuesday, 03 August 2010 07:23 AM

"YES, YES! WHY NOT BAN KI MOON TO THE RESCUE, SINCE ITS AN INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM."

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Pirates hijack Lankans

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