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Eight Italian Seamen on Vessel Seized by Armed Men
An Italian-registered vessel was seized yesterday morning in Tripoli harbour. The incident involves the Asso 22, a supply tug belonging to Augusta Offshore SpA, which is owned by Naples-based shipping entrepreneur Mario Mattioli. The company's tugs are working at the Mellitah oil rig, 120 kilometres from Tripoli and 30 from the Tunisian border. Asso 22 arrived in Tripoli on Friday at the request of the client, a Libyan company in partnership with Italy's ENI, to whom Augusta has leased its vessels. The tug sailed again early yesterday afternoon. On board were the eleven crew members, who were forced to act under orders from the armed men who a few hours earlier had seized the vessel and broken off all radio communications. Their destination is unknown but Asso 22's the north-easterly route would have taken it to the oil rig at Mellitah. This is where it would probably have gone -- although the intentions of the Libyans who seized it are not known -- had not the constant presence of a helicopter from the Italian navy's Comandante Borsini patrol vessel persuaded the hijackers to turn back and head first for Tripoli, and then Tunis. Posted by: tipper 2011-03-21 |
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