A missing Singapore-flagged vessel has been found off Malaysia with all nine crew members accounted for after reportedly being hijacked.
The 3,465 dwt tanker Joaquim had been found about 13.7 n miles off Tanjung Keling, Malaysia, in 9 August 2015 with its oil cargo missing, according to a press release from Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Joaquim’s crew members, which consisted of a Singaporean and nine Indonesians, were found on board. At least one crew member was reported as injured and was airlifted to Alor Gajah Hospital in Malacca, Malaysia.
Meanwhile, a tanker suspected of being used for the siphoning of the 3,500 tonnes of crude oil from MT Joaquim was detained on 11 August in the waters off Dumai, Indonesia, according to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
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“The Indonesian authorities have informed us over the vessel’s seizure and detention of the suspected pirates,” said Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar, vice-admiral of MMEA.
According to Puzi, the Indonesian authorities are still investigating the vessel alleged to be involved in hijacking MT Joaquim and siphoning off oil worth about MYR2.8 million (USD0.71 million).
MT Joaquim is currently being repaired in Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia, and its owner and operator, Consort Tankers of Singapore, has been contacted by the MMEA to help with the investigation.
The tanker was on the way to Langkawi, Malaysia, from Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia, when it was hijacked.
This post was sourced from IHS Maritime 360: View the original article here.
