Pirates Flee Hijacked Product Tanker, Crewmember Reported Shot

Update: Local media has reported that authorities have apprehended eight suspects believed to the be the hijackers of the Orkim Harmony.

Earlier:

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Reuters) – The hijacked oil tanker Orkim Harmony has been launched by pirates, who fled within the ship’s rescue boat, Malaysian navy and maritime officers stated on Friday.

The Orkim Harmony, hijacked on June 11 off the Malaysian coast by pirates reportedly armed with pistols and machetes, was now being escorted by the navy to Malaysia’s Kuantan Port.

Officials stated just one member of the 22 crew was injured, struggling a gunshot wound to the thigh.

[contextly_sidebar id=”eUOMgC6OWZvD2ktOx4FdbE78gf61OQG3″]Three Malaysian navy ships and two plane have been searching the fleeing pirates.

The hijacking is the second seizure of a tanker by pirates in Southeast Asia this month, elevating additional considerations over piracy within the area.

The 7,300 deadweight tonne (DWT) Orkim Harmony was hijacked about 30 nautical miles from the Malaysian port of Tanjung Sedili carrying round 50,000 barrels of RON95 gasoline.

The Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) stated the gasoline on the ship was owned by state-controlled oil and gasoline firm Petronas.

The Orkim Harmony is operated by Malaysia’s Orkim Ship Management. On board is a crew of twenty-two, together with 16 Malaysians, 5 Indonesians and one Myanmar nationwide.

After the tanker was hijacked, the pirates repainted the ship and altered the identify to Kim Harmon. Malaysia’s Chief of Navy Admiral Abdul Aziz Jaafar says eight pirates have been concerned.

The Malaysian naval vessel shadowing the tanker in Vietnamese waters on Thursday was making an attempt to steer the hijackers to give up, says Jaafar.

Early on Friday, Malaysia stated the hijacked ship was nonetheless being shadowed by a navy ship and had been redirected to Indonesia’s Natuna Island, the place it was anticipated to reach on Saturday.

A subsequent MMEA report stated the pirates had fled the ship.

Earlier this month, a 7,100 DWT oil tanker, Orkim Victory, carrying diesel loaded from Petronas was hijacked on June 4 in the identical space and on the identical route.

The Orkim Victory was later launched by the hijackers after about 770 metric tonnes (6,000 barrels) of its cargo had been siphoned off. (Reporting By Al-Zaquan Amer Hamzah and Emily Chow; Editing by Michael Perry)