Missing Malaysian oil tanker hijacked and taken to Indonesian waters, authorities say

MT Vier Harmoni, carrying diesel, was sailing from Tanjung Pelepas port in Malaysia.

Malaysia oil tanker — A Malaysian oil tanker carrying 900,000 litres of diesel worth 1.57 million Malaysian ringgit has been hijacked and taken to Indonesia's Batam, authorities in Malaysia said - File photo Reuters

A Malaysian oil tanker that was reported missing since Monday (15 August) has been hijacked and taken to Indonesian waters, the Malaysian maritime authorities said. The tanker, Vier Harmoni, has been located in the waters off Batam Island.

The tanker was carrying 900,000 litres of diesel worth 1.57 million Malaysian ringgit (£301,311, $392,314).

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said in a statement that they were yet to confirm the identity of the hijackers of the tanker which sailed from Tanjung Pelepas port in Malaysia.

Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar, director-general of the maritime agency, confirmed that the MT Vier Harmoni was currently "somewhere in Batam waters". In a tweet, he said: "#MTVierHarmoni and its load is believed to have been hijacked, carrying 900,000 litres of diesel worth RM1.57mil." He had earlier tweeted about the missing tanker and said that they had launched an investigation into its disappearance.

Later, he tweeted again that he had received information from their Indonesian counterparts that the tanker was located off Batam waters.

MTVierHarmoni didaftrkan diBatam dilaporkan hilang, disyaki dilarikan diperairan Kuantan Port. APMM lancar siasatan. pic.twitter.com/BTg2wVHrqO
— Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar (@KPMaritimMsia) August 17, 2016

#MTVierHarmoni. Siasatan awal menunjukkan kapal dilarikan atas sebab masalah dalaman. Siasatan lanjut sedang dilaksanakan.
— Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar (@KPMaritimMsia) August 17, 2016