Sunken Bitumen Tanker Has Troubled Past
IHS MARITIME 360 reported on the sinking of a Bitumen tanker in South China Sea on 20 Jan 2014. The recent history of the tanker is founded in Somali piracy.
The details of the incident state that:
An asphalt/bitumen tanker sank in the South China Sea after taking in water. The Bitu Gulf sank yesterday in an area 42.6nm southeast of Phan Rang, Vietnam. Vietnam Maritime Communication and Electronics (Vishipel), which receives radio calls from ships around Vietnam, said it had received emergency reports from Bitu Gulf, saying the ship was flooded.
Subsequently, having lost conact with Bitu Gulf, Vishipel informed the Vietnamese authorities who commenced search and rescue operations. All 16 crew were rescued when the Evergreen Marine Corp's container ship, Ever Summit, rescued them and took them to Malaysia. However, one historical detail is omitted.
The Panama-flagged Bitu Gulf is the latest name of the 1991-built 3,884dwt vessel Asphalt Venture. Its name is now synonymous with seafarers held long-term hostage by Somali pirates.
Armed pirates attacked and hijacked the tanker, Asphalt Venture, underway and took the crew of 15 hostage 28 Sep 2010. Whilst 8 crewmembers and the vessel were released 15 April 2011; assuming a ransom was paid, the remaining 7 crewmembers were not released and continue to be held almost four years later, ashore in Somalia.
As the reduction in piracy off the Somali coast is highlighted as a success due to the international navies, improved security measures onships and armed guards employed on ships, the fate of seafarers who remain at the mercy of Somali pirates and in many cases are abandoned by their employers, should not be forgotten. Every effort must be made to release those still denied their freedom.
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