[Emirates 24/7] Anti-Terrorist Special Forces have started a military operation to take control of the ship Arrilah 1 which was hijacked by pirates on Friday morning in the Arabian Sea, an official source from the Headquarters of the UAE Armed Forces, Wam said.An Abu Dhabi-owned ship has come under attack from pirates in the Arabian Sea while sailing from Australia to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, state news agency WAM said Saturday.
The bulk carrier MV Arrilah-I, was attacked in the early hours of Friday, WAM said quoting a statement by the Abu Dhabi government-owned operator.
"We have been assured that all crew members are safe and in good health. Company management is monitoring the situation closely in coordination with relevant government authorities," it said, without specifying clearly that the vessel had been hijacked.
The statement also did not specify where the ship was in the Arabian Sea when the attack happened.
MV Arrilah-I is a "37,000 metric tonne deadweight, Handy Size Bulk Carrier", according to the statement
It is owned by Abu Dhabi National Tanker Company (ADNATCO) and National Gas Shipping Company (NGSCO) which are subsidiaries of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, and own and operate a fleet of carriers for transporting LNG, petroleum products and sulfur.
They are also involved in the marine transportation of petroleum products, ship bunkering and the bulk transportation of sulphur.