MV Asphalt Venture Pirated in Somali Basin

The Panama-flagged MV Asphalt Venture is confirmed to be pirated in the Somali Basin, approximately 100 nautical miles South-East of Dar es Salaam in the Somali Basin. The pirating of the vessel became clear in early afternoon of 29 September.  The vessel had made a sudden, unplanned deviation to its course to Durban, turning back towards the Somali coast, and then failed to respond to repeated radio calls. The MV Asphalt Venture, deadweight 3,884 tons, has a crew of 15, all Indian.