Pirates seize bulk carriers off Somalia

David Osler and Paul Tugwell, Athens - Thursday 18 September 2008

A suspected pirate vessel off Somalia, A suspected pirate vessel off Somalia,
SOMALI pirates this morning captured a Sinotrans bulk carrier, just hours after the seizure of a Greek ship of the same vessel type in Somali waters.

The latest victim is the 27,000 dwt Great Creation, with a reported 25 seafarers on board, including 24 Chinese nationals and a Sri Lankan master. The Hong Kong-managed unit was en route ex-Tunisia to Pipavav in India.

That attack came after the earlier hijack of 1977-built 12,812 dwt Centauri, carrying a crew of 25 Fillipino crew , which was heading for Mombasa after a call in Ethiopia.

The International Maritime Bureau’s piracy reporting centre in Kuala Lumpur confirmed that both ships have formally been reported as taken by pirates, but was unable to add further details.

The 1977-built, Maltese-flagged Centauri had left Ethiopia and was sailing south to the Kenyan port of Mombassa when five pirates attacked the ship in the open sea in the region of the Somalian port city of Mogadishu, Greek state media reported. 

The captain reported the incident to Greece’s Navigation Maritime, at 0230 hrs today. The company immediately informed Greece’s Merchant Ministry. 

A Navigation Maritime spokeswoman confirmed the incident to Lloyd’s List, but was unable at the time of writing to provide further details as to pirate demands and the welfare of both ship and crew. 

The Centauri is owned by Malta-registered Centauri Shipping, although the beneficial owner is Athens-based Navigation Maritime. The vessel is classed by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai and insured through American Steamship, according to the Equasis database. 

On Monday, pirates boarded the 25,269 dwt chemical tanker Stolt Valor, which is believed to have headed for Eyl, a stronghold for pirates operating from Somalia.
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