The 73,000-dwt Torm Sofia (built 2005) was approached by gunmen in a skiff in open sea on Saturday, en route from Sikka in India to New York.

No injuries were reported either to crew or pirates, and the LR1 and its cargo was not damaged.

Torm was coy on the details of the incident, saying only: "All actions performed were as per the procedures and the rules for the use of force and subsequently the pirates abandoned their approach.”

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