They used a hook to scale the rear of the ship from a boat and two of them entered the engine room while the others stayed on the deck.
JOHOR BARU: The Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) through quick action foiled an attempt by six pirates to rob an oil tanker, off Tanjung Piai, Pontian early today.
The Liberian-registered ship was heading to Tanjung Bin and carrying 90,000 tonnes of marine fuel oil worth US$23 million (RM94.873 million) from Brazil.
Maritime enforcement chief Capt Aminuddin Abd Rashid said the agency’s vessel KM Rawa was patrolling the area at 8.35am when personnel intercepted the MT Almi Spirit, anchored four nautical miles from Tanjung Bin.
“When they saw our vessel approaching, the pirates immediately escaped in a boat or jumped into the sea. They did not have time to take anything,” he told a media conference here today.
He said initial investigations revealed the 6.10am attempted robbery was committed by six men armed with machetes.
Aminuddin said the suspects used a hook to scale the rear of the ship, from a boat. Two of the pirates then entered the main engine room while the others stayed on the deck.
The 26 crew members, comprising four Ukranians and 22 Filipinos aged between 35 and 50 are safe, he said.
– BERNAMA
