A Thai oil tanker, VL14, was hijacked by armed pirates off the East Coast of Malaysia on Thursday evening and its cargo stolen, the eighth such incident this year.

The 1,074 gt tanker was boarded by six pirates armed with guns at about 2040 hrs on 28 August 30 nm north of Pulau Tioman according to ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre.

The pirates came alongside the tanker in wooden speedboat, and broke int the bridge and crew cabins gathering the crew in the engine room.

“The pirates took control of the vessel, sailed about 10 nm away from the location of boarding. They ordered the crew to open all cargo valves, activate the cargo pump and transfer the lube oil to two tankers which came alongside,” ReCAAP said.

The pirates left the vessel at 0400 hrs on 29 August and none of the crew was injured. The tanker which had been bound from Singapore to Bangkok, sailed back towards to Tioman and contacted the owner.

ReCAAP said it was the eighth incident involving stealing oil cargoes this year in the region. The attacks against small tankers has heightened concerns over a resurgence in piracy in Southeast Asian waters.