London: The Nato anti-piracy mission has thwarted an armed attack by pirates on a Turkish bulker in the Gulf of Aden. Turkish media reports say gunmen in two speedboats launched an assault on the 58,000 dwt vessel. Tipped off about the attack by a Turkish frigate, a German helicopter was sent to frustrate the pirates. The 19-man Turkish crew of the Elgiznur Cebi were said to be safe and unhurt.
The vessel, owned by Istanbul-based Kaptan Demir Celik, was on a voyage from Yuzhny, Ukraine to Damman in Saudi Arabia. Last month Somali pirates seized another Turkish bulker Horizon-1 with 23 crew on board. Ransom negotiations are ongoing. [14/08/09]
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited. Add Seatrade Maritime News to your Google News feed.
