Iranian Navy rescues supertanker from Somali pirates
By IANSThursday, April 22, 2010
TEHRAN - Iran’s anti-piracy forces have rescued an Iranian oil supertanker that was attacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, a media report said.
The oil tanker was carrying 300,000 tonnes of crude oil and was sailing from the southern Iranian island of Khark to Egypt, when it was attacked by the pirates, Press TV reported Thursday.
A fleet of 15 pirate boats reportedly attacked the ship after it entered the Gulf of Aden, but the Iranian Navy thwarted the hijacking attempt.
The vessel is now en route to its original destination with a naval escort.
Since November 2008, the Iranian Navy has dispatched seven navy vessels to patrol the pirate-infested waters of Somalia.
Despite an internationally-backed EU anti-piracy mission, armed pirates have become increasingly emboldened over the past few years and are even venturing into the Indian Ocean.
Earlier this month, the navy prevented a similar attack on another Iranian tanker bound for Turkey.
