MV Sinar Kudus Pirated

Shortly after sunrise on 16 March, the Bulk Cargo Carrier MV Sinar Kudus was pirated around 320 nautical miles North East of the island of Socotra in the Somali Basin. Within a ay of having been pirated she was used as a mother ship from which an unsuccessful attack against the Liberian flagged Bulk Carrier MV Emperor was launched.

It is believed that a group of 5 pirates approached the MV Emperor in a skiff but were repelled by armed force from the merchant vessel. The MV Emperor was subsequently reported to be safe. No details as to the armed force used to repel the pirates is currently available.

The Indonesian owned and flagged MV Sinar Kudus, was reportedly on its way to Suez in Egypt from Singapore when the attack took place. No precise details of the attack are not known at the moment but initial reports from crew members state that between 30 and 50 pirates have boarded and taken control of the vessel. All of the MV Sinar Kudus’ crew of 20 are Indonesian.

Both vessels were registered with MSC(HOA), and were reporting to UKMTO.

U.S. Navy photograph by Mass communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky

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Mark Lowe, Thursday 17 March 2011