Ten pirates boarded a Hong Kong-registered crude oil tanker anchored in Indian waters last Saturday and fled after the ship master raised the alarm, Seatrade Asia online reports. The oil tanker Everbright was anchored approximately 11 nautical miles west of Kochi when the incident happened, according to an incident alert issued by ReCAAP.
The alert stated that the pirates stole some coils of rope from the tanker and escaped in their small boats after the master raised the alarm. The crew was not injured.
“The India Coast Guard had dispatched a patrol vessel to the ship to investigate. The ReCAAP ISC was informed that the ship was not held back for investigation by the authorities,” the alert stated.
This is the fifth incident reported in the vicinity of Kochi anchorage, India, since January 2011, according to ReCAAP.
“All five incidents were petty theft cases which occurred under the cover of darkness. The favourable weather condition along the west coast of India enables robbers to come alongside a merchant vessel while at anchor, board the vessel from their boats, steal items such as ropes; and escape immediately on being detected without harming the crew.”
The alert stated that the pirates stole some coils of rope from the tanker and escaped in their small boats after the master raised the alarm. The crew was not injured.
“The India Coast Guard had dispatched a patrol vessel to the ship to investigate. The ReCAAP ISC was informed that the ship was not held back for investigation by the authorities,” the alert stated.
This is the fifth incident reported in the vicinity of Kochi anchorage, India, since January 2011, according to ReCAAP.
“All five incidents were petty theft cases which occurred under the cover of darkness. The favourable weather condition along the west coast of India enables robbers to come alongside a merchant vessel while at anchor, board the vessel from their boats, steal items such as ropes; and escape immediately on being detected without harming the crew.”