[estuapped]

Published: Friday January 21, 2011 MYT 6:58:00 PM
Updated: Friday January 21, 2011 MYT 7:41:52 PM

Malaysian navy thwarts Somali pirate attack on MISC tanker

GULF OF EDEN: Malaysian navy commandoes thwarted an attempt by Somali pirates to hijack a Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (MISC) tanker early Thursday.

Sources said the commandoes on board the Royal Malaysian Navy's Bunga Mas 5 were on a routine escort mission of MISC's chemical-laden MT Bunga Laurel and another LPG carrier out of the dangerous gulf waters enroute to Singapore.

But hours out of the danger zone, when the RMN would cease their escort, the pirates struck. At least seven pirates began attacking the MT Bunga Laurel firing their assault rifles and machine guns when trying to board the vessel.

The crew of MT Bunga Laurel activited the alarm and the commandoes, which were about 30km away, reacted immediately by dispatching a helicopter to the scene. The sources said the commandoes boarded the tanker and subdued the pirates.

They said the swift action saved the 20-odd Malaysian crew and the vessel. At least three pirates were injured in the shoot out with the commandoes. In another incident, South Korean navy commandos stormed a ship hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean on Friday.

All 21 crew were saved and eight pirates killed. The hijacking came two months after another Korean supertanker was released by Somali pirates after being held for seven months. Piracy has surged off lawless Somalia in recent years. Pirates are currently holding 29 vessels and about 700 hostages.

[OlegSan]

Saturday January 22, 2011

M'sian tanker and crew saved from pirate attack in Gulf

Reports by K. ASHRAF KAMMED, SHARIDAN M. ALI, SHAUN HO and ZUHRIN AZAM AHMAD

KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Navy earned a feather in their cap when they rescued Malaysian chemical tanker MT Bunga Laurel and its 23 crew members from Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

All 18 pirates surrendered. The Singapore-bound tanker, which was carrying lubricating oil and ethylene dichloride, was attacked by pirates about 300 nautical miles (555km) east of Oman but swift action by navy commandos on board the RMN ship Bunga Mas 5 saved the day.

Over at the Arabian Sea, Somali pirates suffered another blow after South Korean special forces stormed a hijacked freighter.



Other developments:

> Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak congratulated the navy heroes, saying Malaysia was studying international laws on how to deal with detained pirates;

> Praises were heaped on the Royal Malaysian Navy, with many saying the episode underscores the nation’s commitment to fighting piracy.

[estuapped]

Saturday January 22, 2011

Paskal commandos foil hijack attempt in Gulf of Aden

KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Navy has foiled an attempted hijacking by Somali pirates on the MT Bunga Laurel, a Malaysian chemical tanker, in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday.

Commandos from the navy’s elite team Pasukan Khas Laut (Paskal) on board the navy’s auxiliary ship Bunga Mas 5, headed by Komander Nazri Sharif, arrived in time to save the tanker that was heading for Singapore.

A total of 18 pirates, who were involved in the attack, surrendered. Seven pirates were on board Bunga Laurel while 11 were aboard their mothership.

The tanker, laden with lubricating oil and ethylene dichloride, was attacked by the pirates about 300 nautical miles (555km) east of Oman at 11.40pm.



Ragtag arsenal: Some weapons and ammunition seized from the Somali pirates.

The commandos’ swift action prevented the Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (MISC) from losing the cargo worth an estimated RM30mil, and saved 23 Filipino crew members on board the vessel.

Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said Bunga Mas 5 had just completed the task of escorting the tanker and another MISC liquefied natural gas carrier, MT Seri Balhaf, bound for Fujairah, to a safe zone called Easton 4 in the gulf.

“MISC Emergency Reporting Centre (ERC) received a security emergency indication at about 11.37pm from MT Bunga Laurel. MISC called Bunga Laurel by phone but there were no response from the vessel,” said Adm Abdul Aziz.

“At exactly 11.40pm, Bunga Mas 5 called MISC ERC to report that Bunga Laurel had been attacked and pirates were attempting to board the ship by using skiffs. A suspected mothership was also reported in the vicinity.

“The 23 crewmen managed to assemble in the citadel (engine room). All lights were switched off and the main engines disabled,” he said, adding that the pirates’ attempt to barge into the citadel failed.

The commando team in two boats, led by Lt-Komander Maznan Said and Lt Noor Asri Roslan, were dispatched from Bunga Mas 5, located 14 nautical miles (25.9km) away, at 1.20am.

At the same time, the navy’s Fennec attack helicopter piloted by Lt Jason Solomon John provided reconnaissance and aerial cover.

Gunshots were exchanged between the pirates from the Bunga Laurel and snipers from the Bunga Mas 5 and helicopter. The pirates’ mothership attempted to move closer to Bunga Laurel but was thwarted.

Eventually, after taking heavy fire from Bunga Mas 5 and the helicopter, the pirates decided to surrender via radio. All the pirates were captured. Three pirates suffered injuries from gunshots or splinters and given first aid, but no Malaysians were injured.

[estuapped]

Sunday January 23, 2011

‘MT Bunga Laurel’ resumes trip while navy holds pirates

By JOSHUA FOONG
joshuafoong@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: After a day of high sea drama, the rescued Malaysian chemical tanker MT Bunga Laurel, with its load of RM30mil worth of lubricating oil and ethylene dichloride, is back on sail to Singapore with all crew members resuming their duties.

The Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (MISC) confirmed this and thanked the armed forces’ Combined Special Forces Task Group (a joint special action force comprising navy, army and airforce commandos) for their swift action.

“Their bravery and diligence in arresting the piracy threat has ensured the safety of MT Bunga Laurel and its crew,” MISC said in a statement yesterday. The captured pirates have been held under the custody of the navy at an unspecified location pending further action.

Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) fleet operations commander Vice-Admiral Datuk Ahmad Kamarul–zaman Ahmad Badaruddin said despite the gunfire during the rescue mission, codenamed Operation Fajar, the ship sustained minimal damage and had no problem in resuming operations.

He said the pirates were given first aid, food and time for their prayers aboard the ship. Various international bodies have since commended the RMN for its feat, Ahmad Kamarulzaman said.

They include the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Ope–rations, International Maritime Bureau, Nato and European Union task forces as well as the Com–bined Maritime Forces operating in the region.

“The operation took a highly innovative approach with quick and strategic responses from the navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar to our men on the field and close cooperation with MISC that saw to the success of the mission with no bloodshed,” he said.

Meanwhile, the defence ministry has expressed its readiness to provide another naval ship to protect Malaysian merchant ships from the dreaded Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

“We can add another ship, as long as the MISC agrees to bear its operating costs,” minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said. The success (of the rescue operation), he said, demonstrated the RMN’s ability to protect merchant ships plying the pirate-ravaged gulf.

[estuapped]

Tuesday January 25, 2011

Somali pirates to be handed over to our police

By RAHIMY RAHIM
rahimyr@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: The 18 Somali pirates who were captured in the Gulf of Aden last Thursday will be handed over to the Malaysian police, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said. “During the mission to save MT Bunga Laurel and its crew, none of the pirates were killed while those who were injured had

been treated,” he said at a press conference at the Defence Ministry. Navy Chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said the pirates were currently on board MT Bunga Laurel from Singapore heading to Malaysia. “They are expected to arrive on Jan 31,” he said.

The Royal Malaysian Navy’s elite team recorded a victory when it foiled an attempted hijack by the pirates on the MT Bunga Laurel. The Singapore-bound tanker, which was carrying lubricating oil and ethylene dichloride, was attacked about 300 nautical miles (555km) east of Oman.

Ahmad Zahid advised all Malaysian merchant ships to register with the Defence Ministry to secure military escort when travelling across the pirate-infested waters off Somalia. He said the safety of Malaysian ships carrying goods would be guaranteed under an operation known as Operasi Fajar.