MT BOW SAGA attacked by Pirates in Gulf of Aden

03-08-2010

Early this morning Tuesday 3 August, our MV BOW SAGA was attacked by pirates while proceeding westbound in the International Recommended Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden. She immediately sent out a distress call that she was under attack and an EU NAVFOR unit that was close by responded.

The attack was launched by a skiff with 7 people and shots were fired at the superstructure and the bridge. MT BOW SAGA had adopted Best Management Practice security measures and was conducting various counter actions including evasive manoeuvring and deployment of water to prevent boarding.

Upon receiving her distress call, EU NAVFOR ordered the closest warship, the Spanish frigate SPS VICTORIA to react to the incident. VICTORIA already had her helicopter in the air and was able to intervene only ten minutes after the call. The pirates subsequently stopped the attack and tried to flee. After warning shots, first from the helicopter and then from the warship VICTORIA, the pirates eventually stopped and the skiff was searched by a boarding team from VICTORIA. Weapons were found on the skiff.

The MT Bow Saga is a chemical tanker of 40 085 Dwt build in 2007. She is flying Norwegian flag and the 29 crewmembers are all Filipinos. None of the crew was injured, the ship only suffered superficial damages and she continued her voyage.

Odfjell