Malaysian tanker hijacked off Somali coast
Updated
A Malaysian tanker has been hijacked in the Gulf of Aden near Somalian waters, the latest in a wave of attacks in the region.
The tanker, laden with palm oil, was heading towards Rotterdam from the Indonesian island of Sumatra with a crew including 29 Malaysians and 10 Filipinos.
The ship was carrying about 32,000 tonnes of crude palm oil, worth $US 2.5 million at current prices.
Director of the International Maritime Bureau, Captain Pottengal Mukundan, has told Radio Australia's Asia Pacific program that it is the fourth act of piracy in the past month.
"One the vessel itself, we understand that it is under control of the hijackers," he said.
"It is heading for a point of the eastern coast of Somalia and we are of course very concerned.
"In the last 30 days there have been four hijackings which have succeeded.
"There have been numerous other attempted attacks including grenades which have been fired on vessels in the Gulf of Aden."
He says its difficult for authorities in Somalia to hlep solve the hijacking problem.
"It is a very difficult situation because you have a government which has no effective power and no national law enforcement authority,' he said.
"The coastline is controlled by local militias, some of whom see priacy as an income stream.
"Once the vessel enters Somali territorial waters, there is on one who is able to interviene in these situations."
You can find the full story at the Asia Pacific website: http://radioaustralia.net.au/asiapac
