Beijing: The non-stop hijacking of ships in the Gulf of Aden continues with news just in that a Hong Kong registered 43,000 dwt bulk carrier, Delight, belonging to Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line has been seized along with its 25 crew, according to Chinese state media. The ship was carrying wheat to Iran.
Meanwhile, as negotiations get underway for the release of Vela's new VLCC, Sirius Star, nabbed over the weekend, speculation is the ransom could go as high as $50m for the 318,000 dwt ship, its 25 crew and $100m worth of oil onboard. A VLCC has never been hijacked before as they have been deemed too big to board. Ship owners and managers all over the world are now reassessing security plans for their VLCCs, which had essentially always just been a series of high powered water hoses on deck. [19/11/08]
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