Pirates steal gas oil from tanker

Pirates steal gas oil from tanker

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): A Malaysian tanker was hijacked and robbed of its cargo of gas oil by pirates on Monday near Indonesia's Natuna islands in the South China Sea, a news report said on Thursday.

The Petchem, which was carrying gas oil and jet fuel, was boarded by pirates and taken to an unknown destination where its cargo of 2,200 metric tons of gas oil was siphoned off into another ship.

The crew, who were unharmed, were locked up in their cabins and managed to free themselves a day later after the pirates fled.

The International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting center said the theft was similar to a series of robberies on ships in the South China Sea two years ago.