Pirates free Indonesia-bound Thai tanker after cargo theft

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2, 2014 (AFP) - Pirates have released an Indonesian-bound Thai tanker after stealing its oil cargo, in the latest attack in Southeast Asian waters, the International Maritime Bureau said Monday.

MT Orapin 4, with 14 crew aboard, arrived at Sri Racha Port in Thailand on Sunday, the IMB's Kuala Lumpur-based Piracy Reporting Centre said.

The diesel oil tanker had lost contact with its owner after departing Singapore Tuesday on its way to Pontianak on Indonesia's Kalimantan.

"Pirates hijacked and stole the tanker's oil cargo onboard and destroyed the communication equipment. The crew and vessel are safe," the centre said in a brief release.

Noel Choong, the centre's head, said they were still investigating the circumstances of the hijacking, including the exact location.

Pirates have attacked a number of vessels in waters off Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia recently.

In April, pirates injured the captain and stole diesel fuel from another Thailand-owned tanker off the eastern coast of Malaysia.

In the same month, three Indonesian crew were kidnapped and diesel fuel stolen from a Singapore-managed tanker in the Strait of Malacca, an important shipping lane.

January to March saw 23 actual or attempted attacks in Southeast Asian waters, mainly off Indonesia, according to IMB.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-06-02

The pirates would have needed a tanker themselves, or a large-decked ship and a load of drums.

Possible collusion.

Any images from space of ship movement, off loading-----moving away to it's intended destination ???

any visuals from other ships in the area ?? hardly a dingy???

Very strange indeed. Contracted to deliver diesel from Singapore to Kalimantan but end up in Sri Racha Port –Chonburi after being so called Hijacked Why didn't the vessel at least pull into the Port of Songkhla to alert authorities after being released by the Hijackers?

Pirated Thai oil tanker returns to Si Racha



BANGKOK: -- The Thai oil tanker which went out of radio contacts last Saturday and believed hijacked has returned to Si Racha Sunday night, the Operation Centre of the Royal Thai Navy said Monday.

The diesel oil tanker, MT Orapin 4, with 14 crew aboard, arrived at Chon Buri’s Si Racha deep seaport after being hijacked and its cargo stolen by pirates on its way from Singapore to Indonesia.

RoyalThai Navy spokesman Rear Admiral Karn Dee-ubon said the Navy was informed Sunday night by Thai International Tanker Co that the tanker has now anchored in Si Racha about 7.30 p.m.

Earlier on Saturday, International Maritime Bureau said that the Thai tanker had lost contact with the owners after departing Singapore and was believed hijacked.

The Navy spokesman said what it received was that the pirates went on board the Thai oil tanker, destroyed all its communications equipment and robbed all the cargo on board before freeing the vessel with the remaining fuel.

(photo : manager.co.th)

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pirated-thai-oil-tanker-returns-si-racha/


-- Thai PBS 2014-06-02

The pirates would have needed a tanker themselves, or a large-decked ship and a load of drums.

Possible collusion.

Or more likely no collusion.

I would have thought that these Asian countries would be tracking ships in the waters around them?

Tankers just moving around with virtually no effort to contact anyone after the event?

Can they get from where they were meant to be to Sri Racha in a day and a bit?

Tankers just moving around with virtually no effort to contact anyone after the event?

Can they get from where they were meant to be to Sri Racha in a day and a bit?

About two and half days or 60 hours travel time from Singapore to Sri Racha by Ship.

Sounds shady. No one knows anything and no evidence. (Magically no one has a smart phone recording a video )

Very unusual. Maybe just a stroke of bad luck. This ship just recently spent 6 months stranded on the beach in Songkhla (until about 2 months ago).

Oh, just figured out how to attach a photo! Stranded tanker was big news in Songkhla for 6 months!

how bizarre - a theft of fuel taking hours to unload - in the most populated waters on the planet and no one notices - what's the number of the vessel - MH370?

Pirates beware the Thai Junta is watching you, when they get these aircraft carriers working we will be on your case

Tankers just moving around with virtually no effort to contact anyone after the event?

Can they get from where they were meant to be to Sri Racha in a day and a bit?

Lets assume Singapore to Sri Racha... about 790 NM, assume transit time 36 hours

Just on 22 knots cruising speed, and the tanker is empty...why not, it not unreasonable..

The big supertankers can run at 18 knots full and 25 knots empty

The only comment I have about this is the vessel should have AIS installed so they can be tracked, so even if they where hijacked, and the pirates were smart enough to know to switch off the AIS/disable it, last know position would be easy to figure out, bearing and speed.

Tankers just moving around with virtually no effort to contact anyone after the event?

Can they get from where they were meant to be to Sri Racha in a day and a bit?

About two and half days or 60 hours travel time from Singapore to Sri Racha by Ship.

At what speed or where you just guessing, that's only about 13 knots...

how bizarre - a theft of fuel taking hours to unload - in the most populated waters on the planet and no one notices - what's the number of the vessel - MH370?

Now theres are thought still wonder where thats parked its a werid world we are in

how bizarre - a theft of fuel taking hours to unload - in the most populated waters on the planet and no one notices - what's the number of the vessel - MH370?

and within your own comment you have actually answered you own question...the most populated waters on the plant, have you ever seen the amount of shipping in that area ? fully legal fuel transfers going on all the time, if you had to hide a pine tree where would you do it...a pine forest perhaps ?

Also the tankers are designed with massive offloading pumps to get the cargo off quickly all the pirates needed was something to take the fuel, yes a fully laden taker will take hours to off load, but how is this a problem ?....

As much as the TV faithful like creating a good conspiracy theory, especially when there are Thai's involved, this appears to be a genuine hijacking and theft of cargo, pretty common in that area

Oh, just figured out how to attach a photo! Stranded tanker was big news in Songkhla for 6 months!

Now I know Thais have issues with keeping cars on the roads and they even have problems with keeping trains on the rails but you'd think they be able to keep ships on the sea.

Tankers just moving around with virtually no effort to contact anyone after the event?

Can they get from where they were meant to be to Sri Racha in a day and a bit?

NO !!!! ......The vessel , from what i understand , was up the top end of the Straits....It takes approx 24 hrs to get from there to the Horsborough light on the eastern Channel, on that type of vessel.

There are many points along the way where the ship must report to VIS in Malaya & Singapore. If you don,t report they go after you....That would be on record if they didnt report....That broken down heap of garbage would be flat out travelling at 9 knots, even empty. Mobile Phones on board, and no one was contacted????

It would take roughly 12 hrs to unload that vessel....depending on how much cargo they were carrying.

Must be ghosts on that tanker.

http://workboatsinternational.com/news/tag/thailand/

Stranded for months then hijacked.

Tankers just moving around with virtually no effort to contact anyone after the event?

Can they get from where they were meant to be to Sri Racha in a day and a bit?

About two and half days or 60 hours travel time from Singapore to Sri Racha by Ship.

At what speed or where you just guessing, that's only about 13 knots...

Yes i'm assuming 13-14 knots. However, can not rule out Weegee comment regarding the vessel performance capacity, due to it's present condition. would be lucky to achieve 9 knots which would mean the trip would take even longer that.s of course if at full speed.Also so many variables along the way too which makes you wonder about story from the outset.

Lucky they didn't have to pay a ransom.......rice or rubber? Money went to the farmers who paid their shyiocks back which hasn't yet become part of GDP. No money

Tankers just moving around with virtually no effort to contact anyone after the event?

Can they get from where they were meant to be to Sri Racha in a day and a bit?

About two and half days or 60 hours travel time from Singapore to Sri Racha by Ship.

At what speed or where you just guessing, that's only about 13 knots...

Yes i'm assuming 13-14 knots. However, can not rule out Weegee comment regarding the vessel performance capacity, due to it's present condition. would be lucky to achieve 9 knots which would mean the trip would take even longer that.s of course if at full speed.Also so many variables along the way too which makes you wonder about story from the outset.

If it was was up the top end of the Straits, as weegee suggests then no why it could have Sri Racha in the duration suggested in the article, irrespective of whether 13 knots or 22 knots, unless of the course Chinese have sneaked in an dug that canal they were taking about doing...

Any images from space of ship movement, off loading-----moving away to it's intended destination ??

"Nothing on the scanners Captain. We'll beam you up now."

There are multiple forms of comms on a ship right? And no word gets out during the hours of transfer? Yes bunkering takes place, but if it was a genuine hijack surely word would get out Captain Phillips.

So how does this appear to be a genuine hijacking? What evidence?

I agree with the previous poster - collusion.

No mention of the value or number of tons of diesel oil on board,

maybe it went out empty,and came back empty,now looking to

claim insurance,could that happen in Thailand?

regards Worgeordie

Very strange indeed. Contracted to deliver diesel from Singapore to Kalimantan but end up in Sri Racha Port –Chonburi after being so called Hijacked Why didn't the vessel at least pull into the Port of Songkhla to alert authorities after being released by the Hijackers?

Songkhla port is probably too small, it can only dock 1 larger ship at a time.

That hard luck rust bucket should steam immediately for the ship-breaking beach in Bangladesh or Pakistan. Interesting that this hijacking never even got mentioned in the international press. Has piracy become this common?

how bizarre - a theft of fuel taking hours to unload - in the most populated waters on the planet and no one notices - what's the number of the vessel - MH370?

Now theres are thought still wonder where thats parked its a werid world we are in

What's your guess - CIA or KGB?

I reckon the pilots are having karaoke with Elvis....!