No guarantee against attacks

13 December 2010 02:01 am - 4 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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JEDDAH: Ships passing through the Gulf of Aden off the Somali coast still stand the risk of being attacked by pirates, said Kamal Muhammad Arri, the Saudi owner of the recently-released oil tanker MT Al-Nisr Al-Saudi at a press conference in Jeddah on Saturday night.

The tanker, which was hijacked nine months ago, was released along with its crew of one Greek and 13 Sri Lankans on Tuesday and is currently docked at Salala port in Oman.

"We are still in danger. We will not be reassured until the ship safely returns to the Jeddah Islamic Port as it has to pass through pirate-infested areas on its voyage from Oman. There is no guarantee against future attacks," said Arri, who is also managing director of the Jeddah-based International Bunkering Company.

The ship owner urged the international community to help guarantee safe shipping in the Gulf of Oman.

The shipping route is strategically placed as 30 percent of global oil production pass through it, he said.

The vessel would remain for at least three days in the Omani port before it undertakes its 10-day voyage through the Gulf of Aden to Jeddah, he said.

According to Arri, the ship's captain had called him and said all crew on board were safe, though in poor health after their ordeal.

Arri thanked the Saudi government, particularly the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for helping in the release of the ship.

The owner refused to give any details about the amount of ransom paid to the pirates but said he would supply further details soon. According to earlier reports, the pirates were demanding and negotiating a $20-million ransom to release the tanker. However, Maritime industry sources said this was unlikely since the Al-Nisr Al-Saudi is considerably smaller than the Saudi-owned leviathan Sirus Star, which was released in January 2009 after the payment of a $8-million ransom.

"We suffered losses of millions of riyals over the past nine months in terms of lost revenue besides the agony suffered by all those involved," he added.

"However, the ship is insured and we will demand that the insurance companies pay for the losses. A clause in the insurance agreement covers losses incurred if the ship is hijacked between its starting point in Japan until it enters the Red Sea."

He added that increasing insurance coverage for losses incurred due to piracy-related attacks would lead to an increase in premiums, as there were already 35 tankers with 649 hostages being held in Somalia.

He said the company has been helping the families of the sailors and sending them salaries.

Somali pirates make tens of millions of dollars in ransom from seizing ships, including tankers, in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, despite the efforts of foreign navies to clamp down on such attacks. Saudi Arabia had pledged to fight piracy. Riyadh has also signed a major maritime code of conduct that calls for revision of national legislation to criminalize piracy and armed robbery against ships.

Source: Arab News

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Comments - 4

Suba Anagathayak Monday, 13 December 2010 04:23 AM

Why doesn't the policeman of the world (USA) do something about this menace?

Imran Hameed Monday, 13 December 2010 06:18 AM

I think that the cost of policing the area is more than what the ransoms would cost. That is why the international community does not act on this

robinson Monday, 13 December 2010 06:37 AM

yes, you are right. It is hight time for the International community to consult our honorable Defense Secretary and the Government to solve this issue. Our brave armed forces will wipe them out.

sam Monday, 13 December 2010 08:33 AM

the reason for this thing is, thers nothing spacial about somaliya like iraq for an example oil

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No guarantee against attacks

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