Bomb defused from a hijacked tanker found to be a dud

BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Navy’s bomb demolition squad has successfully defused a bomb planted on the bridge of a hijacked Thai oil tanker but the bomb was found to be a dud minus the explosives.

The tanker, Lapin Bangkok, was reported by its captain to have been hijacked by a group of pirates thought to be Indonesia as it was cruising in the Malaysian waters on the night of February 13.

The pirates, said to be armed with guns and knives, managed to offload the tanker’s 2,000 tonnes of bunker oil and another five tonnes of disel into their own smaller tankers.

But before they fled the scene in speed boats, the pirates planted what was suspected to be a bomb on the bridge of Lapin Bangkok. However, a bomb demolition squad from the Songkhla-based Second Fleet which was rushed to the hijacked vessel at the distress call of the captain on Sunday night was unable to defuse the bomb because of darkness which made the task more risky and difficult.

The squad waited until Monday and managed to defuse the bomb which was found to be a dud as there was no explosive inside.

Police in Satun province have interrogated the captain and its nine crews.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bomb-defused-hijacked-tanker-found-dud

-- Thai PBS 2015-02-16

Then, in actuality, they didn't "defuse" anything.

Should've just chucked it overboard if it was too dark to defuse it.

unable to defuse the bomb because of darkness which made the task more risky and difficult.

They haven't heard about flash lights yet?

would have been more accurate to say defuzed the situation

The pirate didn't want to be bothered wasting time trying to negotiate ransom with Thais. They just straight out offloaded cargo and then to show their appreciation to the Thais planted a bomb to destroy the ship.

had though that this issue was solved now that the junta has removed the cib chiefs gang. perhaps others moving into the vacated space. or a relocation of operations

Then, in actuality, they didn't "defuse" anything.

My 1st thought also.

It all sounds a bit sus to me.

unable to defuse the bomb because of darkness which made the task more risky and difficult.

They haven't heard about flash lights yet?

why would you want to photograph it?

A ton of bunker oil is worth more than $600. That makes it a haul of over US$1.2 million.

Would cost a bit go launder that but still a pretty big incentive for pirates.

i hope they used their 6 million baht bomb sniffers

had though that this issue was solved now that the junta has removed the cib chiefs gang. perhaps others moving into the vacated space. or a relocation of operations

You do realize that Indonesia is not a province of Thailand?

Even if it was late at night, the bomb detector couldn't iddentify the fact it was a dud? Had to wait till the morning light to realize they were being played??

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Even if it was late at night, the bomb detector couldn't iddentify the fact it was a dud? Had to wait till the morning light to realize they were being played??

Why would they need a 'bomb detector' when they knew where the suspected device was?

Even though they apparently couldn't see it because it was dark.......................

I know this is Thailand, but merchant marine ships in international waters are supposed to have a gps locater, and captains key it to a one button SOS activator.

Thai helicopters should have been there long before they could have pumped all that crude oil.

I think this hijacking looks suspicious.

Should've just chucked it overboard if it was too dark to defuse it.

Really? So if it WAS a live bomb with a trembler switch that had gone off, killed the bomb disposal crew and sank the tanker that would be OK by you.

I know this is Thailand, but merchant marine ships in international waters are supposed to have a gps locater, and captains key it to a one button SOS activator.

Thai helicopters should have been there long before they could have pumped all that crude oil.

I think this hijacking looks suspicious.

I agree it is highly suspicious! Radio communication difficulties before "hi-jacking" took place - how convenient

What a joke about bomb inspection! Give more time for pirates to get away further from scene of alleged "crime".

unable to defuse the bomb because of darkness which made the task more risky and difficult.

They haven't heard about flash lights yet?

why would you want to photograph it?

Trying to be clever ?? grow up mate..you are just being a wan*er

Sometimes i think these stories have inserted within them poor translations or made up content.

The way this is written it makes it sound like "We could not work on this in the dark." That comes off as pretty stupid.

The reality is, it is wise to wait if possible to work on explosives when ... in the event or an exposion ... the firefighting, evacuations, possible oil spills, etc ... can be managed in the light of day.

It is not "We can not turn a wrench in the dark" ... it is pragmatic thinking of "We do not want to manage a ship on fire with causalities in the dead of night."

These are stange times when you can of load this way, and actually get away with it. This caper required a lot of planing and logistics, up to and including get away tankers ... wow.

Even if it was late at night, the bomb detector couldn't iddentify the fact it was a dud? Had to wait till the morning light to realize they were being played??

I think it's just enough time for the "pirates" to escape these waters or unload their score...

unable to defuse the bomb because of darkness which made the task more risky and difficult.

They haven't heard about flash lights yet?

why would you want to photograph it?

Trying to be clever ?? grow up mate..you are just being a wan*er

maybe so, but flashlight?.

Then, in actuality, they didn't "defuse" anything.

If there was a fuse (chemical, mechanical or electrical) but no explosives, then the description would be accurate.

In the Bangkok Post it said after the hijacking the captain anchored the boat near Koh Tarutao National Park. Excellent choice for a boat load of oil with a potential bomb on board . Slime the best coral reefs in the nation.