MV Leila Hijacked by Pirates Off the Omani Coast
Original Source: Neptune Maritime Security
MSCHOA has confirmed the hijacked vessel as being MV Leila. The Panama-flagged Ro/Ro cargo vessel, with a crew of 24, is owned and operated by New Port Cargo & Shipping of Dubai, United Arab Emirates and was built in 1973. In 2009, the vessel was subject to a legal action and its crew held in Somaliland for several months.
The Leila’s last known position was as of 1100 UTC, 16:47N - 056:15E on a course of 260 at 4 knots. The vessel was not registered with MSCHOA, therefore her cargo and crew complement are unknown. Given the vessel’s size, age and probable value, we assess that this vessel is more likely to be used as a mothership rather than being held for ransom.
Following unsubstantiated reports of a successful hijacking on Thursday Feb 16, official sources including NATO and UKMTO have now confirmed that a merchant vessel has indeed been hijacked by pirates.
There remains some conflicting information as to the exact date and location of the hijacking, however, with NATO Shipping Centre reporting the vessel taken on Friday, Feb 17 in position 18:10N - 057:21E, approximately 50nm off the Omani coast. UKMTO, meanwhile, reports that the vessel was hijacked on Feb 15, approximately 25nm SE of Sadh (East of Salalah), Oman.
Initially, the hijacked vessel’s name was delayed in being confirmed. Sources had suggested that she was a German oil tanker.
The past week has seen a rise in the number of attempted hijackings and pirate attacks, as the monsoon season comes to an end and pirates expand their area of operations accordingly. News site, SomaliaReport, has stated that a fishing vessel was also hijacked in the last seven days and that large numbers of pirates are arriving in ports with the intention of beginning operations next week (February 20th is the traditional end of the ‘Wajillo’ winds in the region).
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