General cargo ship MV RAK AFRIKANA (IMO 8200553) with a deadweight of 7,561 tonnes (5992t gross) has been hijacked at 06h32 this morning, 11 April 2010, approximately 280 nautical miles west of the Seychelles in position 04:45S - 051:00E three days after she left port in the archipelago of the Seychelles.
Reportedly the vessel carried general cargo from the Seychelles to the Zanzibar off Africa’s east coast.
The East African Seafarers Assistance Programme (SAP) issued an alert to all vessels in the area. Chairman Andrew Mwangura, said ships should avoid the seas around where the merchant vessel was taken for the next two days.
"This area will remain high risk for the next 24-48 hours as weather conditions continue to be conducive to small boat operations," he said.
The European Union naval force confirmed that pirates have hijacked the cargo ship west of the island nation of the Seychelles.
Atalanta spokesman John Harbour said he did not know the nationalities of the crew members on board the Rak Afrikana, AP reports, and that the vessel was owned by RAKRak Afrikana Shipping LTD fromSeychelles.
However, Liu Tielin, of the Chinese embassy in the Seychelles, told Xinhua that it hadn't confirmed whether the ship was owned by a local company. "We've just gotten the news and are trying to gather more information. Nothing has been confirmed," Liu said. "If the ship is really Seychellois, we'll contact the owner and put in place relevant measures as soon as possible. However, the ship might be towed to the Somali coast.
In reality the captured vessel flies a flag of convenience from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and has as registered owner RAK AFRICANA SHIPPING LTD based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with an agent's office in the Seychelles, while industry sources say the beneficial owner is from China. China has been on a covered move into the African and Middle East economies since years, coming only now more into the open also with the engagement of China's expanded blue water fleet.
AL SINDBAD SHIPPING & MARINE from Ras al Khaimah (RAK-UAE) serves as manager of the MV RAK AFRICANA.
An EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft spotted the vessel in distress and reported to see only 8 persons (3 of them possible pirates) and several fuel barrels on board. Italian warship ITS Scirocco from CTF 508 is now heading towards the position to investigate, an EU NAVFOR statement says, because the vessel has currently stopped due to engine problems - around 280 nautical miles (520 kilometres) west of the Seychelles.
While China's Seafarers Union spoke of 23 Chinese nationals as crew, probably referring to an outdated listing on the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) database, the shipowner says there are 26 seamen from India, Pakistan and Tanzania on board, as The National reported. Meanwhile the Chinese Marine Search and Rescue Center said no Chinese was found aboard the ship. Though the actual crew-list has not been provided yet and the crew is not covered by an ITF agreement. ECOTERRA Intl. could establish that the crew comprises of 11 Indians, including the captain, the second and third officer, as well as 10 Tanzanians and 5 Pakistanis.
Capt Agay Kotwal, a director of Al Sindbad Shipping and Marine, received a call from the hostage captain at about 9am as the pirates attacked, the UAE newspaper The National reported. “The captain called me and told me they were almost on the vessel,” Capt Kotwal said. “He then told me they were almost over the bridge and the phone cut off.”
There has been no contact with his crew since the pirates boarded. “They would not get in touch with us or answer,” Capt Kotwal reportedly said.
“We have informed all of the international authorities, we are taking the appropriate action and we will wait for the pirates to communicate with us and see what they demand,” he said. “We are trying to contact all the crew and family and give them the information about this and what procedures have been set up. In the meantime, naval forces will intercept and see what can be done,” said Capt Kotwal.
At present the vessel is moving towards the Somali coast, shadowed by the Italian warship.