China maritime search and rescue centre got an alarm that a Chinese merchant ship “Pinery Gulf” encountered assault of pirates with guns in the south of the Red Sea at 17: 30 of Aug, 5. Minister of MOT, Li Shenglin went to chief duty room of China maritime search and rescue centre to command rescue work personally subsequent to receipt of alarm. The ship has gotten rid of assault of pirates presently without casualties.
It was reported that “Pinery Gulf” oil tanker of China Shipping Development Company Limited found 4 boats steering in high speed 3 nautical miles in its right rear in the south of the Red Sea on the way from Saudi Arabia to Korea at 16:00 of Aug, 5, so the ship started anti-pirate emergency plan immediately and started SSAS (ship security alert system) to give an alarm and sent out SOS to British maritime trade organization, and then the crew raced to their battle station. The ship gotten rid of assault of pirates through struggle without casualties among the 23 crews.
Li Shenglin saluted the crew through satellite phone, required them to maintain vigilance constantly and take subsequent anti-pirate measures properly, and suggested the ship to join his escort team after confirmation of ship safety, so as to ensure safe sailing. China maritime search and rescue centre has fixed position of the ship through maritime GPS, and now the ship is under normal sailing as scheduled shipping line.