Alert Captain of Indian tanker evades pirate attack

Jaishree Balasubramanian

Kuala Lumpur, Feb 13 (PTI) Swift and evasive action by
the Captain of an Indian tanker in pirate-infested Gulf of
Aden saved the vessel from being hijacked as renewed attacks
in the region targetted six international ships in the past
two days, a top piracy watchdog said here Friday.

"Speed boats with heavily armed pirates opened fire on
the Indian managed tanker but its alert Captain contacted
nearby patrolling warships and promptly took evasive and
preventive measures to evade the pirates," Noel Choong, head
of the International Maritime Board's Piracy Reporting
Centre based here told PTI.

Choong said favourable weather conditions and possibly
the release of many hijacked ships in exchange for huge
ransoms had emboldened the pirates to launch more attacks in
the Gulf of Aden.

His comments came as US and Russian warships, including a
nuclear-powered cruiser, captured more than 17 heavily armed
pirates and seized grenade launchers, automatic rifles,
landmines and huge cache of narcotics.

Besides the Indian tanker, Choong said, ships from
Britain, Singapore, Greece, a philippino company and one
unknown managed to escape from the pirates.

"They are now looking for new ships to hijack," Choong
said. PTI JB