Pirates release missing Vietnamese oil tanker

A Vietnamese oil tanker was released by pirates early Thursday, a week after it went missing en route from Singapore to the Vietnamese port of Quang Tri, a media report said.

The Sunrise 689, located some 78 nautical miles south-west off Hon Khoai island in the southern Kien Giang province at 5 a.m local time (22:00 GMT Wednesday), was on the way back to the southern Ca Mau province, Xinhua reported citing the Vietnam Marine Search and Rescue Center.

The 6,000 tonne tanker, under Vietnam's northern Hai Phong Fishery Shipbuilding Company, was carrying 5,226 tonnes of oil and 18 crew members.

The ship went missing hours after it left Horizon port in Singapore Oct 2.

According to Nguyen Quyet Thang, captain of the ship, pirates seized the vessel and captured cargos after destroying the steering wheel and communication equipment of the ship. Two crew members were also injured.

"The ship, being towed by two fishing boats, was expected to reach Ca Mau Thursday noon," Thang said.

Vietnam Coast Guard Command mobilized two ships from the southern Phu Quoc island and Ca Mau province to join the rescue mission.