Dubai: The United Arab Emirates launched a military operation to free a vessel hijacked by pirates in the Arabian Sea, the official news agency WAM said on Saturday.
The agency said earlier the vessel Arrilah 1 had been sailing from Australia to the UAE's Jebel Ali port when it was seized by pirates early on Friday.
Earlier An Abu Dhabi-owned ship has
come under attack from pirates in the Arabian Sea while
sailing from Australia to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates,
state news agency WAM said.
The bulk carrier MV Arrilah-I, was attacked in the
early hours of yesterday, WAM said quoting a statement by the
Abu Dhabi government-owned operator.
"We have been assured that all crew members are safe
and in good health. Company management is monitoring the
situation closely in coordination with relevant government
authorities," it said, without specifying clearly that the
vessel had been hijacked.
The statement also did not specify where the ship was
in the Arabian Sea when the attack happened.
MV Arrilah-I is a "37,000 metric tonne deadweight,
Handy Size Bulk Carrier", according to the statement,
It is owned by Abu Dhabi National Tanker Company
(ADNATCO) and National Gas Shipping Company (NGSCO) which are
subsidiaries of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company ADNOC, and own
and operate a fleet of carriers for transporting LNG,
petroleum products and sulfur.
They are also involved in the marine transportation of
petroleum products, ship bunkering and the bulk transportation
of sulphur.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, April 02, 2011, 22:41