South Korea, April 09: A South Korean supertanker seized by Somali pirates at the weekend has anchored off a port in the north of war-torn Somalia with a Korean warship still nearby, pirates and witnesses say.
The 300,000-tonne Samho Dream, which was seized Sunday in the Indian Ocean as it took crude oil from Iraq to the United States, was off the Somali port of Hobyo.
“Our friends anchored safely off Hobyo overnight while a Korean warship is still keeping watch,” said Abdi Yare, a pirate leader in Hobyo.
“They told me they have already contacted the owner and I hope discussions will follow soon.”
Local fishermen said they spotted the crude carrier with pirates still on board.
“We can now see the big ship not far away from Hobyo. The pirates are still on board and there is no movement between the ship and land,” said Sahal Mohamed, a fisherman.
“The ship came and dozens more pirates are preparing to go on board to replace their colleagues in guarding,” said Abdulahi Qumane, another fisherman.
Pirates from the lawless Horn of African country have turned the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean into a dangerous route for foreign vessels. In recent months, the sea bandits have shifted to the Indian Ocean to avoid international navy patrols in the Gulf of Aden.
—Agencies