Olaf Vessel Reviews and Specifications

On January 3, 2010, the British-flagged tanker 'CPO China' found itself under threat from Somali pirates while navigating the North Arabian Sea. The vessel was attacked approximately 365 nautical miles southeast of Salalah, Oman, as pirates armed with skiffs attempted to seize control. However, the 20-member crew demonstrated remarkable bravery by retreating to a designated safe room within the ship, allowing them to maintain possession of the vessel. The audacious piracy attempt escalated as the assailants fired upon the ship and successfully boarded but quickly realized their tactic had failed. The situation turned in favor of the crew when sailors from the Australian frigate HMAS 'Melbourne' intervened the following day, January 4, only to find the pirates had fled and all crew members were unharmed. This incident highlights the expanding operational range of Somali pirates, now venturing further northeast, raising concerns for maritime security in the region.