ID :
25676
Tue, 10/21/2008 - 14:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/25676
The shortlink copeid
M'SIAN NAVY SHIPS RETURN FROM GULF OF ADEN
LUMUT, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Shipping companies should not let the responsibilty for the safety of their vessels rest with the country's security vessels, including the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), but should instead find other mechanisms to ensure the safety of their ships and crew, said the Fleet Operations Commander of the Lumut RMN Base, Vice Admiral Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin.
He said shipping companies should find alternatives like investing in
security measures as the RMN could not be accompanying commercial vessels
especially those who passed through the Gulf of Aden as the operational cost was
high.
"Shipping companies must invest in security aspects and not depend fully on
the RMN to protect their ships each time they are threatened by pirates," Ahmad
Kamarulzaman told reporters here today after welcoming two RMN ships with over
500 sailors which returned to base after Ops Fajar to rescue two Malaysian
International Shipping Corporation (MISC) ships seized by pirates in the Gulf of
Aden.
Ahmad Kamarulzaman, who was also Ops Fajar task force commander, greeted
the
crew of KD Lekiu and KD Inderapura together with their family members.
Also on board the ships were army and air force personnel who took part in
the operation.
MV Bunga Melati 2 that was laden with palm oil sailed from Dumai,
Sumatra, in Indonesia bound for Rotterdam with a crew of 39 made up of 29
Malaysians and 10 Filipinos when it was seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden
between Somalia and Yemen on Aug 19.
MV Bunga Melati 5 was carrying petrochemicals from Yanbu, Saudi Arabia and
bound for Singapore with a crew of 41 made up of 36 Malaysians and Filipino
maintenance men when it was seized on Aug 29.
MV Bunga Melati 5 was released on Sept 27 and MV Bunga Melati 2 two
days
later.
Another RMN ship, the KD Mahawangsa, is still in the Gulf of Aden to
monitor
the situatiion.
Lumut is a small town (population 31,880) in the northern state of Perak,
Malaysia, and it is the gateway to Pangkor Island. It is a quaint little town
famous for its beautiful seashell and coral handicrafts
-- BERNAMA
He said shipping companies should find alternatives like investing in
security measures as the RMN could not be accompanying commercial vessels
especially those who passed through the Gulf of Aden as the operational cost was
high.
"Shipping companies must invest in security aspects and not depend fully on
the RMN to protect their ships each time they are threatened by pirates," Ahmad
Kamarulzaman told reporters here today after welcoming two RMN ships with over
500 sailors which returned to base after Ops Fajar to rescue two Malaysian
International Shipping Corporation (MISC) ships seized by pirates in the Gulf of
Aden.
Ahmad Kamarulzaman, who was also Ops Fajar task force commander, greeted
the
crew of KD Lekiu and KD Inderapura together with their family members.
Also on board the ships were army and air force personnel who took part in
the operation.
MV Bunga Melati 2 that was laden with palm oil sailed from Dumai,
Sumatra, in Indonesia bound for Rotterdam with a crew of 39 made up of 29
Malaysians and 10 Filipinos when it was seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden
between Somalia and Yemen on Aug 19.
MV Bunga Melati 5 was carrying petrochemicals from Yanbu, Saudi Arabia and
bound for Singapore with a crew of 41 made up of 36 Malaysians and Filipino
maintenance men when it was seized on Aug 29.
MV Bunga Melati 5 was released on Sept 27 and MV Bunga Melati 2 two
days
later.
Another RMN ship, the KD Mahawangsa, is still in the Gulf of Aden to
monitor
the situatiion.
Lumut is a small town (population 31,880) in the northern state of Perak,
Malaysia, and it is the gateway to Pangkor Island. It is a quaint little town
famous for its beautiful seashell and coral handicrafts
-- BERNAMA
