All crew on the Malaysian hijacked tanker MT Bunga Melati Lima are safe, local media reported on Thursday.
Malaysia International Shipping Corporation (MISC) said it confirmed this after establishing its first communication with the tanker master four days after pirates seized it in the Gulf of Aden, between Yemen and Somalia.
The crew were being well treated, it said in its statement.
"We were also informed that all Muslim crew ... are allowed to practice their religious duties during the fasting month of Ramadan," the New Straits Times quoted MISC as saying.
Bunga Melati Lima, fully laden with petrochemicals, was heading towards Singapore from Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, when it was hijacked on Aug. 29.
It was the second MISC tanker to be hijacked in the gulf.
Following the second hijacking, MISC ordered its vessels not to enter the area.
The Malaysian Armed Forces has also deployed a "crack" team to the gulf to "monitor" the situation.
Two Royal Malaysian Navy warships are to protect Malaysian merchant ships in the region.
Negotiations were continuing for the safe release of the two tankers and their crews. Bunga Melati Lima has a crew of 36 Malaysia and five Filipinos, MISC said.
Source:Xinhua
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