Malaysian Rescue And Coordination Centre News

The MT Penrider, owned by Malaysian interests, laden with 1,000 mt of fuel oil was en route from Singapore to Penang when it was attacked off Port Klang by armed pirates at about 13.30 hrs. on Sunday, 10 August 2003. The pirates armed with automatic weapons took control of the vessel. The Malaysian Rescue and Coordination Centre in Klang was alerted to the incident and a Marine Police patrol boat was sent to the scene. Negotiations took place between the vessel's owners and the pirates and eventually the vessel was released and allowed to proceed to Penang. However, the vessel's master, chief engineer and assistant engineer were taken hostage by the pirates and remain so pending payment of the ransom demanded by the pirates.