Muscat: A Liberien flagged, Greek owned, ship Eleni P was reported to have been hijacked 250 nautical miles off the coast of Oman, according to European Union Naval Force, who are patrolling the waters in and around Somalia . This makes it the second ship to be hijacked off the coast of Oman in four days.
The bulk carrier of 72,119 deadweight and crew of 26 (23 Filipinos, two Romanian and one Indian) was on route to Kandla in India when taken by pirates. The EU NAVFOR, who are monitoring the situation, reported that crew are safe.
Last Saturday, Somalian pirates had taken hostage a German operated chemical tanker, 120 miles south of Salalah in southern Oman.
“A Marshal Island flagged, German owned, Chemical tanker the Marida Marguerite, of 13000 tonnes was taken by pirates,” said an email message sent to Gulf News from the EU Navfor.
According to a spokesperson of the EU Navfor, the ship was approached by a pirate skiff firing automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades and the crew reported that they saw the pirates climbing onboard.
The ship has a crew of 22 (19 Indian, one Ukranian, two Bangladeshis). It is believed that all are well.
A passing merchant ship tried to make contact by VHF radio but received a response from the bridge of the hijacked vessel to “go away”.
