MV BLIDA pirated in the Indian Ocean
In the afternoon of 1 January, the MV BLIDA was pirated approximately 150 nautical miles South East of the port of Salalah, Oman.
The20,586tonneBulk CarrierisAlgerianflagged and owned. The vesselwas on her way toDaresSalaam, TanzaniafromSalalahinOmanat the time of the attack. No further details of the attack are known at this stage.MV Blidahas a crew of27(Algerian, Ukrainian and Philippino) and is carrying a cargo ofClinker.MV BLIDA was registered with MSC(HOA) but had not reported to UKMTO.
There are now 28 vessels and 654 hostages being held by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
Source: EU NAVFOR
