21 Myanmar sailors on UBT Ocean, carrying chemicals owned by Naway, were hijacked by Somali pirates, on the way from UAE to Tanzenia on March 5, 2010. There has been no information since their abduction about their ship.
The UBT Ocean ship was flying the Marshall Islands flag. All crews on this ship are Myanmar. There was a message from the captain just after they were hijacked.
This ship is not registered at SECD,Myanmar, Seamen Employment Control Division, said U Aung Kyaw Hsan, secretary of MOSA, Myanmar Ovberseas Shipping Association.
There has been similar events that May 28,2008 M.V.Lehnann Timber and M.V. Bright Ruby of South Korea ,including 14 Myanmar crews been hijecketed by Somali pirates in September,2008.
In 2009 October, MV Alkhalia including 2 Myanmar crews and MV Kota Waja with 1 Myanmar crew had been hijecketed at Gulf of Eden, Somali.