Pirates attacked a Frontline Ltd. suezmax in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday, but NATO forces on patrol foiled the attempted hijack, reports said.
According to CNN, pirates attempted to capture the MV Front Ardenne at 6 p.m. local time, but Canadian and British Naval forces were able to intervene and the pirates were apprehended seven hours later.
The 1997-built 153,152 dwt Front Ardenne is a Norwegian-flagged crude oil tanker operated by Frontline and managed by V Ships Norway.
A NATO spokesman said the pirates were detained, but allowed to go free after questioning.
He said there is currently no formal procedure for NATO personnel to follow once they have apprehended pirates.
Their weapons are confiscated and they are then usually given provisions and released, CNN reported.
Meanwhile, separate reports say Saturday also saw another attack on a tanker in the Gulf of Aden.
The Handytankers Magic was attacked on Saturday but managed to evade capture.
The Marshall Islands-flagged 2009-built 38,499 dwt chemical products tanker is managed and operated by Roxana Shipping.
Martin Thorup Jensen, chartering manager for Handytankers told Tankerworld Monday that the Handytakers Magic is a Roxana tanker but operates in the Handytankers pool.
A Dutch naval vessel is said to have detained seven suspected pirates in their mother-ship, but has since had to release them due to 'legal technicalities'
By Steven |
