Pirates shoot gastanker off Oman

Pirates fired guns and rocket-propelled grenades at a liquefied natural gas tanker off the coast of Oman on Wednesday, and three shots hit the vessel, the International Maritime Bureau’s anti-crime arm said. “Pirates in a dhow armed with guns and RPG fired upon a LNG tanker under way. The dhow closed to 50m from the ship and fired shots, of which three hit the vessel,” the IMB said in a report. LNG industry sources said yesterday the LNG Aries, managed by Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, was the victim of the attack, but the company was not available for immediate comment on the condition of the ship. The IMB said the ship was not boarded by the pirates but did not say whether it was hit by grenades.