Kuala Lumpur: Pirates are still holding a master and chief engineer eight days after they were kidnapped during an attack on their tug in the Malacca Strait, according to the latest International Maritime Bureau Weekly Report.
On Monday 13 August 10 pirates armed with firearms boarded a tug towing a barge laden with steel billets. The pirates damaged all communication equipment and stole crew personal belongings and ship's documents. The master and chief engineer were kidnapped and taken ashore. The tug and barge have anchored at the destination port. The whereabouts of the master and chief engineer still unknown but the gang has contacted the owners to demand a ransom and negotiations are believed to be underway.
Among other incidents reported robbers tried to steal the zinc anodes from a chemical tanker at anchor at River Mooring No. 3, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Robbers, in "country boats" approached the vessel and were noticed to go under the hull near the stern. The robbers were cutting off and stealing the zinc anodes. The incident was reported to the coast guard who sent a patrol boat. On seeing the patrol boats, the robbers left their boats and escaped. The coast guard seized the boat and boarded the ship for investigations. [22/08/07]
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