Crude oil carrier TAKAYAMA

NYK says tanker safe after rocket attack from pirates
VLCC TAKAYAMA fired on by unidentified boat...

Around 10:10 a.m. Japan time (4:40 a.m. local time) on April 21, 2008, Nippon Yusen said in a brief statement on its website, a small unidentified boat about 440 Kilometers east of the Yemeni city of Aden approarched the NYK Very Large Crude Carrier TAKAYAMA and fired "some form of munitions". According to a report from Takayama, the unidentified boat sped away at 11:03 and has not been seen since.


The company said she was on a ballast voyage to Yamboo in Saudi Arabia from Ulsan, Korea from which the tanker departed at 2:40 a.m. on April 4.

No injuries were reported, the company said and that navigation remains unaffected, however possible damage to the tanker is "still being investigated".

Press reports say that the Japanese Coast Guard described the weapon as "rocket-like" whilst in a statement on their website, the Coast Guard described the attackers as 'pirates' and said that damage had occurred near the stern of the ship.

The area is notorious for attacks on shipping and only on Sunday a Spanish fishing vessel, the PLAYA DE BAKIO, was attacked by pirates from Somalia who boarded it and have taken the crew of 26 hostage.