The MT Motivator captain reported yesterday the tanker had been under small arms fire from a pirate attack in the northern Bab Al Mandeb area in the southern Red Sea. After notification of this attack, attempts were made to make contact with the Motivator but to no avail. The seizure was confirmed early on 5 July, EU NAVFOR press release said.
The 13.065DWT Marshall-flagged chemical products tanker with a crew of 18 Filipino nationals on board was carrying lubricated oil. EU NAVFOR is monitoring the situation.