Second Stolt Hijack

Crews on vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden are “very jittery” as a spate of attacks saw another Stolt-chartered ship hijacked and a UK-managed reefer attacked.

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB)’s Piracy Reporting Centre has been flooded with calls from ships in the area reporting suspicious vessels, Noel Choong of the centre said.

The plethora of reports follows the seizure of the 33,200-dwt chemical tanker Stolt Strength (built 2005) in the Gulf of Aden on Monday afternoon. Although Choong would not name the vessel, he confirmed that a Philippines-flagged unit had been taken while en route to Asia with an unknown cargo.

A statement from the ship’s owner, Sagana Shipping, confirmed that it was within the designated security corridor in the Gulf of Aden at the time of the seizure. It is now believed to be heading down the east coast of Somalia.

Initial reports that there were 21 crew onboard appear incorrect as Choong said there are 23 crew members. Sagana’s statement confirmed that all crew are Filipino.

The Stolt Strength is classed by Bureau Veritas and has P&I cover with the Japan Shipowners’ Association. Choong also said that a Saudi Arabia-flagged reefer managed and operated out of the UK sustained bullet holes after coming under attack about 250 kilometres off the coast of Mogadishu on Monday afternoon.

Pirates in two speed boats armed with semi-automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade launchers fired on the ship which took evasive manoeuvres and managed to outrun its attackers.

Although Choong could not name the vessel, information suggests that it is either of the 602,800-cbf pair Al Moshtaree or Al Mareekh (both built 1984) which are both managed by London Ship Managers. The hijacking of the Stolt Strength means the Netherlands-based outfit now has two chemical tankers being held by Somali pirates. There are 22 crew onboard the 25,300-dwt Stolt Valor (built 2004) which was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on 15 September while en route from Suez to Mumbai.

There have been various reports of ransom demands from the hijackers of the Stolt Valor of between $2m and $6m. The latest seizure brings to 12 the number of ships being held by
Somali pirates after Clipper’s 7,300-dwt multi-purpose vessel CEC
Future (built 1994) was taken on Friday. The total amount of crew being held hostage is believed to be 236.

So far this year there have been 83 reported attacks in or around Somali waters with 33 hijackings.