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: 1st January 2011 Type: Hijacking Voyage: Oman to Tanzania
Reports have been received that bulk carrier BILDA (12829gt built 1978) was hijacked by Somali pirates yesterday whnen150 miles south of Salalah.
The vessel, which was en route to Dar es Salaam from Oman, has 27 crew on board. She is understood to be carrying a cargo of clinker.
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.
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.
