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Pirates release oil tanker with Pinoy crew — report


An oil tanker with a predominantly Filipino crew that was seized off the coast of the Niger Delta last October 30 has been released, Nigerian officials said over the weekend. Russia-based maritime news site Maritime Bulletin reported pirates released the M/T Halifax after taking part of its cargo and oil products destined for Nigeria. "[Its] crew is unharmed. [The] vessel was hijacked on Oct. 30, 60 miles off Port Harcourt," the report said, adding that the crew were mainly Filipino and Indian with an Italian master. "After [the] hijack [the] pirates forced [the] crew to take the vessel to some place in Gulf of Guinea," the report said. A separate report by the British Broadcasting Co. said the vessel had a crew of 25, mainly Filipinos, and that they are "safe and accounted for." "The vessel is presently being escorted to Port Harcourt harbour by Nigerian Navy Patrol Team. Part of the cargo was siphoned," BBC quoted a spokeswoman for the Nigerian Maritime Administration as saying. It said the Halifax is operated by the Greek-based Ancora Investment Trust Inc and is flagged out of Malta. Ancora lost contact with the tanker on October 30, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). An official said it was located about 100km (60 miles) off Port Harcourt before it was hijacked. Earlier this week, the United Nations urged West African nations to increase naval patrols following a surge of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea. — KBK, GMA News

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