BPirates set Suezmax on fire

BPirates set Suezmax on fire
(July  8  2011)

Somali pirates fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a tanker off the coast of Yemen, setting the Suezmax accommodation block on fire.

The attack on the 150,000 dwt ‘Brillante Virtuoso’ took place about 20 miles off Aden on Wednesday. As a result of the fire, the crew abandoned the vessel and were picked up unharmed by a US warship.

The tanker’s Greek manager Central Mare told Reuters that efforts were underway to extinguish the fire and the cargo was not in danger. The vessel was carrying 141,000 tonnes of oil loaded in the Ukraine bound for China.

A statement from the Combined Maritime Forces, under whose jurisdiction the warship was operating, said the oil tanker was sailing from the Suez Canal through the Gulf of Aden at the time of the attack.

“Shortly after the suspected attack, the (‘Brillante’) ‘Virtuoso’ reported a fire on board, which was beyond their control and that their intention was to abandon ship,” the statement said.

There were 26 seafarers on board the vessel at the time of the incident.

At the time of writing, the tanker was anchored 16 miles from the nearest port and was being kept in position by tugs.