Primarina Trading Pte Ltd of Singapore reported that one of the company's tugs, Marina 26, was taken by pirates on March 22 off Tioman Island Malaysia. The crew was later left adrift and rescued. The crew reports that the tug had been repainted to green. Primarina Trading is looking for any assistance in locating the tug and its tow which was empty at the time.
After taking the Marine 26 tug, the pirates traveled east with the crew held hostage. Then the pirates left the crew on a life raft floating in mid sea. The crew was rescued on March 26 night by a passing fishing boat and they are now safely onshore at Natuna island. According to the Captain, the pirates have repainted the tug to green and the company believes their intention was to take the vessel rather than ask for ransom.
Primarina Trading wishes to spread the news so that other shipowners are aware of piracy in the area and on the look out for suspicious vessels that are put up for sale, especially in the Philippines and East Malaysia.