Kuala Lumpur, June 2 (IANS): The missing Indonesian-bound Thai tanker has been freed by pirates who stole its oil cargo, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said Monday.
"Pirates hijacked and stole the tanker's onboard oil cargo and destroyed the communication equipment. The crew and vessel are safe," Xinhua quoted a statement from the IMB as saying.
"MT Orapin 4" with 14 crew members aboard arrived at Sri Racha Port in Thailand Sunday, the statement added.
The Piracy Reporting Centre said Saturday that the ship, which was on its way to Pontianak, Indonesia, lost contact after leaving Singapore Tuesday.
The international maritime agency recorded 23 actual or attempted attacks from January to March, mainly off Indonesia.