AI MARU

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Tanker for the second time victim of piracy

The "Ai Maru" after having left Singapore for the Gulf of Thailand on June 14, 2014, carrying 1,520 tonnes of marine gas oil, was boarded by an unknown number of robbers from three speed boats in the South China Sea at 8.30 p.m. Maritime assets were deployed in response. On June 15 at about 00.50 a.m. , the "Ai Maru" stopped with its shipboard lighting turned on, and it was assessed that the unauthorized personnel had left the vessel as they have been alerted that the maritime authorities were closing in. A Malaysian maritime enforcement vessel proceeded alongside the tanker for investigation. The same vessel had been boarded by pirates in 2012 in the South China Sea with the same intention of siphoning. However, the pirates’ plan was foiled when the authorities were in the vicinity. This time, the pirates’ plan was again foiled owing to the quick response from regional maritime authorities.