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Pirates begin talks over their $250m tanker prize
Ed Harris18.11.08
SOMALI pirates who hijacked a supertanker carrying $100million of crude oil in the Arabian Sea opened negotiations with the vessel's operator today.
The Sirius Star is also carrying 25 crew, two of them Britons, and any ransom deal is likely to run into millions of dollars. Spokesmen for Nato and the US Navy said they did not have any plans to intercept the ship which is worth $150million on its own.
The Sirius Star was today said to be "nearing an anchorage point" at Eyl, a port often used by pirates based in Somalia's Puntland region. Witnesses reported seeing a "huge ship" approaching. Owner Vela International Marine said this morning that the crew were safe and they were working to ensure the release of the men and the vessel.
At 318,000 tons and 1,080 feet long, the Sirius Star is one of the world's biggest ships, three times the size of an aircraft carrier, and was only launched in March. Vela is state oil giant Saudi Aramco's shipping arm. The Liberian-registered ship had been heading for the United States via the Cape of Good Hope when seized at the weekend.
Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud, speaking in Athens, said today that the hijacking was "an outrageous act" and added: "Piracy, like terrorism, is a disease which is against everybody, and everybody must address it together."
The capture of such a large ship, the biggest yet taken, is an acute embarrassment for the multi-national naval task force sent to the region this year to stop piracy off Somalia.
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, said the pirates were well trained. "Once they get to a point where they can board, it becomes very difficult to get them off, because now they hold hostages," he added.
Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Board's regional piracy centre, said: "As long as there is no firm deterrent pirates will continue to attack. The risk is low and returns are extremely high. You will see more and more of such attacks."
Details of the attack were not known. But in the past, pirates have used ropes and ladders to climb the hull and the crew often does not notice until it is too late. On the Sirius Star, the attackers would have had to climb about 30 feet to the deck.
Reader views (7)
Hmmm. Oil drops to 55 a barrel and a new expensive tanker gets stolen. Interesting timing. If I were investigating this one I'd say check the owner and insurance company first.
The real pirates may be the owners of the ship.
- Maxwell, New York, USA
This is probably going to sound a bit too obvious, but with a cargo of $100m you would have thought that the ship would also be carrying, say at least 10 heavily armed mercenaries to see off such attackers.
- Jimbob, Kensington
"Let's just pray that the Americans don't send in Delta Force who have a history of turning bad situations into bloodbaths."
I was wondering if anyone would take a cheap shot at the Yanks. Just like clockwork, there it is! Somehow the Americans get bad press for something they're not involved in yet again. For the record, American forces are not the guys in films and on TV. Just thought I'd mention it.
- Rogan, Irving
Sounds like an opportunity for some wild geese to get a job or two. Ship-board ruthless response would have the pirates more worried than the international fleet stuck in its assigned patrol areas. Cheaper than paying out vast sums of money in ransoms too. Bullets always are.
- Rogan, Irving
Reminds one of the U boat days though they were just out to sink shipping. It comes down to arming the ships and having CCTV to spot potential hazards.
Either way shipping in those waters should have 'eyes' (as in technical) at all points around its hull. It must take time for the pirates to get aboard and give crews the opportunity to repel boarderers.
- Tony Islander, Herts
Let's just pray that the Americans don't send in Delta Force who have a history of turning bad situations into bloodbaths.
- Bob, Cheam
They probably only hijacked it, so they had a sea worthy vessel, to make it's way to Treasure Island, sorry I meant the UK
- P I Staker, London
