NITC denies deploying armed guards

IRANIAN tanker operator NITC has denied allegations that its vessel VLCC Hadi relied on armed guards to repel a Somali pirate attack, contrary to earlier accounts, reports Tanker Operator.

As per international rules and regulations, the use of armed guards for protection is prohibited on all ships, including its own, the company said in a statement.

The news comes shortly after a recent RPG attack on one of NITC's Cyprus-flagged vessels, which saw its "S" band radar rendered inoperable as a result. To the relief of the 40-man crew on board, the ship's captain managed to outrun the attackers by increasing speed to 16 knots, and altering the ship's course towards Oman.

NITC, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, and the respective charterers were kept fully apprised of the situation throughout the four-hour ordeal, said the report.

The pirates were thought to be using a small coastal craft, capable of speeds up to 14.5 knots, as opposed to the usual smaller boats.

In another incident, a products tanker recently managed to avoid capture by using foam turrets and fire hoses rigged along its deck to create a "water curtain." At the same time, the ship's crew used parachute flares to deter the attackers, as the vessel was quickly steered away in a zig-zag motion, which made it next to impossible for the pirates to board.

Elsewhere, an Indian-flagged Suezmax off the coast of Goa sustained a hail of gunfire recently at the hands of seven pirates aboard a small skiff. No crew members were injured, and the vessel managed to escape without incurring serious damage.

Indian authorities have since dispatched surface and airborne units to the area in hopes of preventing further attacks.
(Source:www.schednet.com)