An NYK Line-owned VLCC has been targeted by two skiffs while sailing off the coast of India, TradeWinds has learnt.
The 302,200-dwt Tosa (built 2008) was sailing some 194nm southwest of Goa in India in position 13° 38.0' N, 70° 55.0' E when the confrontation took place.
The incident happened on Monday afternoon and has just been reported by the Singapore-based Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre.
“While sailing, a mother boat with two skiffs picked up speed towards the Tosa on a collision course,” said ReCAAP.
“The crew raised the general alarm, anti-piracy alarm and sounded fog horn. After a few minutes, the skiffs stopped approaching the VLCC.
“The master was not able to see the persons on board the skiffs or the mother boat.”
The Japanese-flagged tanker subsequently reported the incident to Indian authorities before continuing its voyage.
Late last month an Active Shipping-owned LR2 has been chased by pirates in the Indian Ocean, but evaded capture.
The incident aboard the 115,000-dwt Pacific Sky (built 2007) took place 180nm southwest of Porbander in India in position 20° 13.9' N, 66° 51.1' E.
An unknown number of perpetrators on board four skiffs chased after the ship and attempted to board it.
