Pirates raid supertanker at Iraq’s Basra

Armed pirates raided a supertanker anchored close to Iraq’s Basra oil export terminal in the early hours of Wednesday, in the latest serious security breach at the facility.

Gulf Agency Company (GAC) said the raid comes only two weeks after pirates attacked the crew of a supertanker waiting to load crude oil at the southern deep water terminal where most of Iraq’s crude oil is exported.

Exports from Basra provide nearly all of Iraq’s income.

“The alert was sounded when watchmen found three men carrying long knives, a rifle and a machine gun on board the vessel. The pirates fled in a speed boat and no causalties have been reported,” GAC said.

The agent said merchant ships should be extremely cautious in and around the deepwater terminals and anchorages. “In light of this latest incident, robust anti-piracy procedures should be adopted,” it said.

Reuters AlertNet