A Thai tanker that went missing after leaving Singapore last week has been released by pirates who stole its oil cargo, a maritime watchdog said today.
The International Maritime Bureau said it has been informed by the ship's owner that Mt Orapin 4 has been released and safely arrived at Sri Racha Port in Thailand yesterday.
The ship's owner lost contact with the vessel and its 14 crew members after it left Singapore on June 27. The ship was due at the Indonesian port of Pontianak two days later but failed to arrive.
"Pirates hijacked and stole the tanker's oil cargo on board and destroyed the communication equipment. The crew and vessel are safe," said Noel Choong, who heads the bureau's piracy reporting centre in Kuala Lumpur. No further details were available.
Last month, a Thai ship and a Singapore tanker carrying diesel were also attacked by pirates after they left Singapore. Pirates stole the cargo before releasing the ships.
