RP seizes pirated vessel

RP seizes pirated vessel

MANILA (AFP): Philippine authorities seized an Indonesian- flagged cargo ship which was hijacked off Singapore and detained seven suspected Indonesian pirates, the coastguard said on Monday.

The Inabukwa, which had been repainted and renamed Chugsin, was boarded by the coastguard off the northern Philippine town of Cabugao last Sunday, the transportation department said in a statement.

The Indonesian embassy in Singapore had reported that the 1,170-ton vessel was boarded and seized by pirates on March 15 while transporting 432 tons of tin ingots to Singapore from the Indonesian port of Batam.

Its original crew of 22 Indonesians were marooned on the deserted island of Pulau Sayap and eventually rescued by local fishermen, the statement said.

The missing ship is owned by the Indonesian firm PT Pelni Pusat of Jakarta.