Mitsui O.S.K. Containership Attacked off Thailand

Tokyo, Dec. 25 (Jiji Press)--A containership operated by Japan's
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. <9104> has been attacked with gunfire by what
appeared to be a pirate ship off Thailand.
While the gunfire hit the stern of the Panamanian-registered
12,559-ton Acclaim, its 19 crew members--two South Koreans, including the
ship's captain, and 17 Filipinos--were unhurt, according to the Japanese
transport ministry.
The attack took place at around 12:25 a.m. Thursday Japan time
(3:25 p.m. GMT Wednesday) in waters some 19 kilometers off Thailand's
Sattahip Province.
The Acclaim left Bangkok port at around 6 p.m. Wednesday Japan time
for Osaka, western Japan, according to officials of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.
After sailing about six hours, the Acclaim encountered what looked
like a fishing fleet and one of the ships approached the containership. The
Acclaim tried to run away, but suffered the attack, the officials said.
The Acclaim is heading for Osaka as scheduled because the damage on
the vessel was not serious and the suspicious ship seems to have given up
chasing it.
It is the fifth time this year that a ship related to Japan was
attacked by what appeared to be pirates, according to the transport
ministry.