If you have insured cargo on board the following vessels and would like us to assist you in pursuing any claims arising from these incidents (or any similar cases), or if you require assistance in providing GA or salvage guarantees, please contact us as soon as possible.
Date: 7th April 2010 Type: Hijacking Voyage: Black Sea/Kenya/India
Reports have been received that Turkish vessel YASIN C (22353gt built 1982), together with her 25 Turkish crew, has been hijacked by Somali pirates today.
It was reported that the bulker was taken some 250 miles off the Kenyan Coast. It is possible that she may also have cargo on board for India. The cargo was loaded in the Black Sea. This is the third vessel taken in the last three weeks although there have been numerous unsuccessful pirate attacks as well.
It is likely that a ransom demand will be made by the pirates quite shortly. Shipowners commonly claim a proportion of any ransom payment from cargo owners as a general average contribution. It often takes several months for ransom negotiations to be concluded.
Because ransom payments can often lead to a very large claim on cargo insurers, it is important that the full circumstances of the hijacking are investigated.
We have acted for cargo insurers in respect of piracy incidents in the past and have often been able to negotiate reductions in general average payments requested from cargo insurers.
