Pirates board Danish tanker in Malaysian waters

Pirates boarded a Denmark-registered tanker anchored in Malaysian waters in the early hours of Wednesday, but left the tanker without any loots. Tanker Torm Clara was anchored south of Tanjung Ayam, Johor, when the incident happened at about 0430 hours on 13 January, according to a ReCAAP alert. Three robbers armed with pistol and knives boarded the tanker from a boat. The crew locked themselves in the accommodation room and were unharmed. About an hour later, the robbers left the tanker after damaging the steering gear room lock but had taken nothing from the ship. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Authority had sent personnel to the tanker to conduct an investigation. This is the first incident reported in the vicinity off Tanjung Ayam and Tanjung Ramunia for 2011. In 2010, a total of 11 incidents of robbery onboard ships anchored off the two locations had been reported.