Somali pirates capture oil-laden VLCC
Monday, November 17th, 2008 - 11:48 am
Pirates have seized their largest prize yet, the Saudi Arabian-owned VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) Sirius Star and are making for the Somali port of Eyl. The supertanker, bound for the USA with a crew of 25, is carrying 2 million barrels of oil, roughly equal to one-quarter of Saudi Arabia’s daily output.
The Sirius Star was launched in March 2008 and is owned by Saudi Aramco through Dubai-based subsidiary Vela International, which operates 24 tankers, 19 of them VLCCs.
So far in 2008, the International Maritime Bureau (IMO) has recorded 63 attacks in the area around the Horn of Africa, making up one-third of all piracy incidents worldwide. As of 30 September, 12 vessels remained captive and under negotiation with more than 250 crew being held hostage in lawless Somalia. (Sources: BBC News, “Pirates capture Saudi oil tanker“; IMO; Vela International)
