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Pirates Hijack Saudi Oil Tanker

Ship loaded with oil is taken to Somalian port

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 17, 2008 11:36 AM CST
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(Newser) – Pirates flying the Liberian flag hijacked a Saudi Arabian oil tanker today, the BBC reports. The Sirius Star is now bound for the port of Eyl, Somalia, a common destination for pirates to unload their booty. Currently holding its full load of 2 million barrels, the Sirius Star contains one-quarter of Saudi Arabia’s daily oil output. "It's the largest ship that we've seen pirated," said a US Navy spokesman.

Also worrisome was the tanker's distance from shore when it was hijacked, the LA Times reports. It was twice as far out to sea as a typical target, indicating the pirates in the region are "changing the way they're doing business," said the navy spokesman. The international crew of 25 is said to be safe. Vela International, the shipping company that owns the vessel, said it had dispatched response teams to negotiate the crew's release.

In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, pirates leave the Ukrainian merchant vessel MV Faina for Somalia's shore Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008 while under observation by a U.S. Navy ship.
In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, pirates leave the Ukrainian merchant vessel MV Faina for Somalia's shore Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008 while under observation by a U.S. Navy ship.   (AP Photo/U.S. Navy, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky)
This undated picture made at an unknown location shows the Sirius Star tanker conducting a trial run in South Korea.
This undated picture made at an unknown location shows the Sirius Star tanker conducting a trial run in South Korea.   (AP Photo/ Newsis via Daewoo shipping yards and commissioned)
In this Wednesday Nov. 12, 2008 image, two boats from the British warship HMS Cumberland intercept a a Yemeni-flagged dhow in the Gulf of Aden, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008.
In this Wednesday Nov. 12, 2008 image, two boats from the British warship HMS Cumberland intercept a a Yemeni-flagged dhow in the Gulf of Aden, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008.   (AP Photo/MOD/ho)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Mr.C
Nov 17, 2008 1:12 AM CST
somolia just recently decided to let the US help out with pirates - and only now do we hear about what is going on there darned us-centric media

Tanker is the largest ship to be seized by pirates
Wired

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Reuters

 
Somalia • Africa • Saudi Arabia • piracy • fuel tankers • crude oil • pirates • US Navy

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