A potential pirate attack on a Vietnamese cargoship has been foiled by the Malaysian navy.
The 3,100-dwt Phu An 268 (built 2008) was sailing in Philippines waters near the Boan Islands on 7 March when it spotted a boat containing six men following it, the Bernama news agency reported.
The master increased speed and changed course into Malaysian territory.
He contacted the Malaysian Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), which sent a Viper patrol ship and a KD Sri Tiga high-speed boat to the scene.
They located the vessel and safely escorted it to Sandakan in Sabah state.
The cargoship is operated by An Trung of Haiphong City.
