Oil Tanker Seized by Indonesian Authorities
Indonesian authorities have seized the tanker, MT Joaquim, believed to have been used by pirates to siphon 3,500 tonnes of crude oil on Saturday, according to a report in Bernama.
The tanker was detained at about 4pm today (August 11), in the waters off Dumai, Indonesia,Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) deputy director-general (operations) Vice-Admiral Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar said.
“The Indonesian authorities have informed us over the vessel’s seizure and detention of the suspected pirates,” Ahmad Puzi said.
However, Ahmad Puzi said Indonesian authorities were still conducting investigations on the tanker and would identify whether the individuals on board were the pirates involved in seizing the MT Joaquim.
The Singapore-registered MT Joaquim was laden with 3,500 tonnes of crude oil worth RM2.8 million when it was reported missing on Saturday night, while sailing from Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia to Langkawi.
Yesterday, the MT Joaquim with 10 crew members was found 14 nautical miles east off Pulau Rapat, Indonesia, after it was released by pirates at 8.55am. However, the cargo was missing.
The hijacking of Singapore-registered oil tanker MT Joaquim which went missing in Selangor waters last night, is the first reported incident in Malaysia’s maritime areas in the Melaka Strait this year.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said this was based on information received from the relevant Malaysian authorities.
