UAE-owned products tanker Al Nouf has survived an attack by armed pirates in the Somali Basin today,On 21-MAR-2011 at 08:46 UTC while underway in position 03 47 0 N, 053 33 0 E, 315nm SE of Hobyo, Somalia on bearing 287.6, the AL-NOUF was attacked by one skiff with 4 armed pirates, and a second skiff with 10 armed pirates.
The PAG fired RPG’s and other automatic weapons at the Tanker and attempted to board her. Master increased speed, mustered crew, undertook evasive maneuvers, activated SSAS and their armed security team was engaged in a firefight that eventually led the PAG to break off their attack. The Master, two crewman and the ‘AL-NOUF’s’ three man armed security team remained on the Bridge while the other 18 crewmembers went to the vessels citadel. Three crew members were injured by pirate gun fire, one seriously and the vessel sustained damage from the RPG’s and automatic gun fire.
Maritime Assistance Center (MAC) Securewest International
Product tanker Al-Nouf IMO 9422990, dwt 97135, built 2010, flag Liberia, owner FAL Group UAE.
