Pirates Hijack LPG Tanker

Published Mar 7, 2011 1:41 PM by The Maritime Executive

After two weeks with no attacks, a German tanker is boarded by pirates in Gulf of Aden on January 29, 2009; vessel is third ship this month to be taken in the region.

The M/V LONGCHAMP’s capture is the first attack of a ship since a very-large crude tanker was unsuccessfully attacked on January 15, 2009. Many believe the attacks have tapered off due to the poor weather in the region and the number of EU, US, China, and Russian warships patrolling the area.

The LPG tanker is managed by Hamburg-based Bernard Schulte Shipmanagement and was on transit from Europe to Asia. The ship had on board a crew of 12 Filipinos and one Indonesian and was boarded by seven pirates in the area between Somalia and Yemen. Reportedly, the crew is at this time unharmed. While contact has not been made with the vessel, the captain was allowed to speak to the management company, but no demand for ransom was made as well.