The Saudi-owned crude oil carrier Sirius Star. Photograph: Caters News Agency LtdTanker On Move Following Threat To Pirates -- Financial Times
Pirates holding the Sirius Star, the vast crude oil tanker seized a week ago, have moved the vessel because of the risk of Islamist attacks from groups opposed to piracy, according to news agency reports.
Bloomberg reported that the vessel had already been moved from Haradhere, north of Mogadishu, while Agence France Presse reported they were preparing to move it. It is unclear where the vessel is heading.
Moving the vast tanker – four times larger than the previous biggest vessel seized by Somali pirates – represents a considerable risk in shallow coastal waters. The vessel is carrying 2m barrels of oil and could need as much as 17m of water depth to manoeuvre safely. The agency said the pirates, who are demanding a $25m (£17m) ransom, had acted after threats from Al-Shabaab, an Islamist group, to attack the tanker.
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More News On Somali Piracy And Its Civil War
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Somalia’s piracy industry -- The Telegraph
Ransoms bring wealth to Somali pirate bases -- Reuters
Niche Enterprise for the Despicable, Desperate and Daring -- The Times
Somalia: Red Sea countries discuss ways to halt Somali piracy -- Somali Net
Somalia Pirates May Reduce Ransom Demand for Saudi Supertanker -- Bloomberg
Somali pirates to reduce ransom for Sirius Star -- The Guardian
Saudi supertanker moved to unknown destination – Somalia gov’t -- Saudi Gazette
Somali Pirates to Fight for Oil Tanker Ransom - The Australian
Somali Pirates Move Saudi Tanker as Islamists Warn of Attacks -- Bloomberg
Islamist fighters warn pirates to free Saudi tanker -- The Telegraph
Rebels, pirates face off over Saudi supertanker -- Times Of India
Islamic fighters vow to rescue hijacked Saudi tanker -- CNN
Somali Islamists 'Hunt Pirates' -- BBC News
Indian hostages say pirates were gun-toting drug addicts -- Al Arabiya
Lawless Land Where Everyone Wants to be a Somalian Pirate -- Daily Telegraph
India 'to Step Up Piracy Battle' -- BBC News
Greek Tanker and Crew Freed by Pirates -- Associated Press
How to Deal With Pirates -- Wall Street Journal essay
What to Do When Thar Be Pirates - Washington Post (opinion)
America's hidden war in Somalia -- Chicago Tribune
Dozens Killed as Fighting Intensifies in Somalia -- New York Times
Somalia: Islamists to attack Puntland pirate bases? -- World War 4 Report
Ethiopia-Somalia-Withdrawal -- African Press Agency
Somali Peace Talks Agreed to Tackle Issue of National Unity Government -- Voice Of America