MT Orkim Harmony crew in high spirits after safe return to port
Part of the Orkim Harmony crew happily pose for pictures in Kuantan after over a week of being held captives by pirates. Credits to @abihanaa
KUANTAN: All 21 crew members of the hijacked MT Orkim Harmony who returned to port Saturday morning are in good hands and undergoing health checks.
Another crew member - an Indonesian cook - who was shot in the buttocks, was airlifted out earlier for treatment.
They will be required to have their statements recorded before being reunited with their worried family members.
Naval Region 1 commander Rear Admiral Datuk Azhari Abdul Rashid said due to a problem with the engine, the oil tanker was delayed from the expected time of arrival at 2.30am.
Azhari said the tanker finally docked at the Kuantan Port at about 7.30am.
"All crew members are in high spirits and anxious to meet their families.
"The whole concerted operation has been very successful.
"All crew members are safe and the eight hijackers captured by Vietnam authorities," he told a packed press conference here.
Two of the hijackers have been identified as having shot the cook.
Azhari said investigations were currently ongoing by maritime authorities.
He said the navy operations came to a close officially after all the hijackers were caught.
"Our main duty is to escort MT Orkim Harmony to the port and ensure safety of all crew members.
"The hijackers are part of a syndicate and we leave it to the relevant authorities to investigate.
"Obviously, the hijacked cargo is substantial and finding a buyer is not easy," he said.
MT Orkim Harmony, which was laden with 6,000 tonnes of petrol worth RM21mil, was reported missing at 8.57pm on June 11 while on its way to Kuantan Port from Malacca.
The vessel, owned by Magna Meridian Sdn Bhd, was carrying 22 crewmen on board, comprising 16 Malaysians, five Indonesians and a Myanmar national.
The cargo belongs to Petronas.
Shortly after seizing control of the oil tanker, the hijackers repainted the name to "Kim Harmon."
Part of the Orkim Harmony crew happily pose for pictures in Kuantan after over a week of being held captives by pirates. Credits to @abihanaa
KUANTAN: All 21 crew members of the hijacked MT Orkim Harmony who returned to port Saturday morning are in good hands and undergoing health checks.
Another crew member - an Indonesian cook - who was shot in the buttocks, was airlifted out earlier for treatment.
They will be required to have their statements recorded before being reunited with their worried family members.
Naval Region 1 commander Rear Admiral Datuk Azhari Abdul Rashid said due to a problem with the engine, the oil tanker was delayed from the expected time of arrival at 2.30am.
Azhari said the tanker finally docked at the Kuantan Port at about 7.30am.
"All crew members are in high spirits and anxious to meet their families.
"The whole concerted operation has been very successful.
"All crew members are safe and the eight hijackers captured by Vietnam authorities," he told a packed press conference here.
Two of the hijackers have been identified as having shot the cook.
Azhari said investigations were currently ongoing by maritime authorities.
He said the navy operations came to a close officially after all the hijackers were caught.
"Our main duty is to escort MT Orkim Harmony to the port and ensure safety of all crew members.
"The hijackers are part of a syndicate and we leave it to the relevant authorities to investigate.
"Obviously, the hijacked cargo is substantial and finding a buyer is not easy," he said.
MT Orkim Harmony, which was laden with 6,000 tonnes of petrol worth RM21mil, was reported missing at 8.57pm on June 11 while on its way to Kuantan Port from Malacca.
The vessel, owned by Magna Meridian Sdn Bhd, was carrying 22 crewmen on board, comprising 16 Malaysians, five Indonesians and a Myanmar national.
The cargo belongs to Petronas.
Shortly after seizing control of the oil tanker, the hijackers repainted the name to "Kim Harmon."
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