Pirates shoot dead a Vietnamese sailor, hold 6 hostages

After attacking the Giang Hai ship (Vietnam) in the Philippine sea area on the evening of February 19, the pirate group shot and killed sailor Vu Duc Hanh and kidnapped 6 crew members.

At noon on February 20, a representative of International Shipping Joint Stock Company (owner)Giang Hai ship) said, immediatelyWhen the pirates left, the crew of the Giang Hai ship discovered that 7 people were missing and reported to the ship.Aquamarine Gas nearby to send messages to Vietnam. Upon closer inspection of the ship, the crew discovered his body.Vu Duc Hanh (21 years old, from Hai Phong) in the cockpit, 6 others were kidnapped.

The six people being held by pirates include captain Bui Xuan Vien, first mate Do Huu Nghia, third mate Bui Trung Duc, second engineer Nguyen Huu Truong, sailor Tran Viet Van, and mechanic Nguyen Quang Huy.

The Giang Hai ship had its equipment destroyed by pirates and was set adrift. It was then approached by another Vietnamese cargo ship, which transferred people to the ship and took them back to port. The ship is currently anchored outside Sandakan Port (Malaysia), cPhilippine Coast Guard has boarded the ship to investigate.

Giang Hai ship at sea. Photo: Provided by the enterprise

According to International Shipping Joint Stock Company, the unit has contacted the crew members on board and completed procedures to evacuate the victims.The ship owner planned to bring the ship into Sandakan port, Malaysia to repair equipment, add crew members, and depart for Iloloi (Philippines) to return the cargo.

Vietnam's Ministry of Transport said it would notify the Consular Department - Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the morning of February 20 about the incident to request support from Philippine authorities and request the pirates to release the crew.

Reuters reported on February 20,A Vietnamese vessel was attacked near Baguan Island in Tawi-Tawi, an area close to the stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf Islamist militant group. A spokesman for the armed forcesPhilippine Coast Guard Lieutenant Colonel Armand Balilo said the investigation was being conducted in coordination with the military and police.

Before yesterday’s attack, the militants had taken 27 hostages, a hostage report said. The hostages included Indonesian, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Filipino sailors, a Dutchman, a German and a Japanese. The shipowners were forced to divert their ships to other waters, increasing costs and shipping times.

Earlier on the evening of February 19, the Giang Hai ship with 17 crew members on its journey to transport cement from Indonesia to the Philippines, was attacked by armed pirates when approaching Sulu Island in the Philippines.

According to VNE