A UAE-flagged bulk carrier owned by the ADNOC group of companies which was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on Friday has been freed the following day by UAE special forces, according to state news agency, WAM.
The MV Arrilah-1, a 37,000 metric tonne deadweight, Handy Size Bulk Carrier was on its way from Australia to the UAE when it came under attack from pirates east of the Omani coast. UAE authorities have said that all the crew members were accounted for.
The vessel is owned by ADNOC’s shipping arm, the Abu Dhabi National Tanker Company and National Gas Shipping Company (ADNATCO & NGSCO).
“The Anti-Terrorist unit, supported by the UAE Air Forces and Air Defence units, and in coordination with the US 5th fleet, boarded the vessel today, following which the pirates surrendered. The MV Arrilah, together with all of its crew, is now heading towards the UAE coast,” an official source from the UAE armed forces said. “The pirates are under guard and will be handed over to officials of the UAE Ministry of Interior on arrival at Jebel Ali.”
“The decisive operation is evidence of the determination of the UAE Government to respond swiftly to any acts of piracy and indicates the UAE’s resolve not to yield to such threats,” the source concluded.
On Monday March 28, the MV Zirku, a UAE-flagged and Kuwaiti-owned oil tanker was hijacked by pirates and was last known to be taken to the Somali coast.
