Eitzen robbed

Pirates armed with knives and crowbars have boarded an Eitzen Gas ship in the South China Sea and robbed the crew of a raft of possessions.

Six of the gang clambered onto the 10,537-cbm Sigloo Discovery (built 1989) while it was underway close to Pulau Mangkai in one of three pirate incidents in the region over the weekend.

They tied up the master along with two others before making off with cash, watches and personal electronic items.

Sources tell TradeWinds nobody was injured in the incident on 27 June.

Following the Sigloo Discovery hit and two near identical assaults on general cargo ships in the region, shipowners are being warned to employ additional lookouts while sailing in the area.

Piracy has been on the wane in the South China Sea for some time. Sources say it is too soon to say whether it is ready to take off again following three attacks within a 48 hour period.

The Sigloo Discovery is managed by EMS Singapore, classed by Lloyd's Register with P&I cover by Gard of Norway.

This is the second time in two months Eitzen has been caught up in a piracy incident.

In May its 11,646-cbm Sigloo Tor (built 1989), chartered to Maersk, came under fire from pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

It only escaped capture due to the combined efforts of the crew and navy forces.

Last year the Eitzen Bulk controlled 51,500-dwt Stella Maris (built 2007) was hijacked off the Horn of Africa after nearly 40 heavily armed pirates stormed the vessel.

It was released in September following 12 weeks in pirate hands after a ransom of around $2m was handed over.

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