ID :
36498
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 16:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/36498
The shortlink copeid
RMN VESSEL NOT INFORMED OF TUG BOAT`S ROUTE - ARMY CHIEF
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- The owner of a Malaysian tug boat hijacked by Somali pirates off Yemen on Tuesday, did not disclose its route to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) vessel, currently protecting the country's commercial vessels in an anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden.
Armed Forces chief Gen Abdul Aziz Zainal said RMN vessel 'KD Inderasakti'
did not receive any information on the movements of the tug boat from the
private
company which owned it.
"We were not informed, so we do not know the tug boat's movements. Maybe,
it
sailed through a different route," he told reporters after officiating the
closing of a leadership course for army officers here Thursday.
He said Malaysian vessels or boats wanting to cross the waters should
inform the RMN vessel to ensure that their movements were well-coordinated and
protected.
"The sea is a broad area. We cannot determine which route the tug boat
took.
That's why a coordination between the RMN vessel and the shipping company is
needed so that their movements could be arranged in an orderly manner to prevent
pirate hijacks," he said.
RMN vessels have been protecting the waters in the Gulf of Aden ever
since two Malaysian International Shipping Corporation's (MISC) vessels were
hijacked by Somali pirates in August.
The operation involves three other RMN vessels 'KD Lekiu', 'KD Inderapura'
and 'KD Mahawangsa' taking turns to protect and accompany the country's
commercial vessels from pirate threats in the area.
'KD Inderasakti' is currently leading the ongoing operation.
In the 7.15pm (local time) incident on Dec 16, the tug boat with 11 crew on
board -- all Indonesian nationals -- was hijacked by Somali pirates.
Prior to this, MISC vessel 'MT Bunga Melati Dua' with 39 crewmen, was
hijacked while heading to Rotterdam from Dumai, Indonesia on Aug 19.
Ten days later, another MISC vessel, 'MT Bunga Melati Lima' with 36
crewmen,
was also hijacked while crossing the same waters.
Both ships and their crew have since been released.
-- BERNAMA
Armed Forces chief Gen Abdul Aziz Zainal said RMN vessel 'KD Inderasakti'
did not receive any information on the movements of the tug boat from the
private
company which owned it.
"We were not informed, so we do not know the tug boat's movements. Maybe,
it
sailed through a different route," he told reporters after officiating the
closing of a leadership course for army officers here Thursday.
He said Malaysian vessels or boats wanting to cross the waters should
inform the RMN vessel to ensure that their movements were well-coordinated and
protected.
"The sea is a broad area. We cannot determine which route the tug boat
took.
That's why a coordination between the RMN vessel and the shipping company is
needed so that their movements could be arranged in an orderly manner to prevent
pirate hijacks," he said.
RMN vessels have been protecting the waters in the Gulf of Aden ever
since two Malaysian International Shipping Corporation's (MISC) vessels were
hijacked by Somali pirates in August.
The operation involves three other RMN vessels 'KD Lekiu', 'KD Inderapura'
and 'KD Mahawangsa' taking turns to protect and accompany the country's
commercial vessels from pirate threats in the area.
'KD Inderasakti' is currently leading the ongoing operation.
In the 7.15pm (local time) incident on Dec 16, the tug boat with 11 crew on
board -- all Indonesian nationals -- was hijacked by Somali pirates.
Prior to this, MISC vessel 'MT Bunga Melati Dua' with 39 crewmen, was
hijacked while heading to Rotterdam from Dumai, Indonesia on Aug 19.
Ten days later, another MISC vessel, 'MT Bunga Melati Lima' with 36
crewmen,
was also hijacked while crossing the same waters.
Both ships and their crew have since been released.
-- BERNAMA
