Crew Repel Somali Pirates' Attack on Iranian Tanker
An Iranian Tanker carrying tons of crude oil escaped an attack by the Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden near the Bab al-Mandab Strait after its crew pushed back the assailants.
Deputy Head of the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) for Technical Affair Jamal Miahi said that the Somali pirates attacked the Iranian Sosangerd tanker at 19:30 hours local time on Thursday.
Ten pirates using two small boats neared the tanker but the tanker's crew supported by a military chopper of the international military forces deployed in the region could repel the pirates through their timely reaction, he added.
Miahi also mentioned that the tanker is carrying 158,000 tons of crude oil for Spain and is presently back on course to its destination.
"This was the fourth failed attack by (the Somali) pirates against the company's vessels during the current (Iranian) year (started on March 21) and the 24th attack during the last 22 months," Miahi added.
The Iranian Navy has already dispatched several fleet of warships to the Gulf of Aden to confront pirates' attacks.
The Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, when Somali raiders hijacked the Iranian-chartered cargo ship, MV Delight, off the coast of Yemen.
Source: farsnews.com
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