Novoship's Tanker Presumably Hijacked off Gulf of Aden

05.05.2010

On 5th May 2010, a Novoship-owned oil tanker Moscow University was attacked by two speedboats with a group of armed people while proceeding eastbound from the Gulf of Aden. The attack took place in the Indian Ocean 350 miles to the east of the Yemeni island of Sokotra at about 4:00 a.m. UTC. The pirates opened fire and tried to board the vessel.

The crew of Moscow University acted in compliance with the office instructions: all the relevant parties were informed including the Russian-flag warship Marshal Shaposhnikov which is currently proceeding to the vessel’s position.

At 4:50 UTC the communication with the vessel was disrupted. The Company suspects the pirates managed to board the tanker. According to the latest information received from the Master none of the 23 seafarers on board have been hurt, the vessel and the cargo sustained no damage.

Reference info:

The mv Moscow University is a Liberian-flag 106.000 dwt oil tanker built in 1999. When the attack occurred the ship was under way from the Red Sea to China for discharge of 86.000 tones of crude oil.

Novorossiysk Shipping Company