Japanese Ship Missing, Feared Hijacked

A Japanese cargo ship with 17 people on board has gone missing near Thailand and is feared hijacked, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said. The 6,594 dwt chemical tanker Global Mars left Malaysia's Port Klang on February 22 for India's Haldia with 6,000 tons of palm oil. Its last reported position on February 23 was west of Thailand in the Andaman Sea, 7 degrees 32 seconds north and 97 degrees 24 seconds east, the IMB said. South Korea's Maritime Affairs Ministry and a South Korean shipping firm said the ship's last contact was on February 22 when it was some 240 miles north of Indonesia. IMB said the fate of the 17 crew of the Panama-registered ship was not known. The crew comprised seven from South Korea and 10 from Mynmar. The vessel is owned by Japan's Global Marine Service Co Ltd, according to the South Korean government and shipping sources.