Stena-Imperial

The crew of the "Stena Imperial" successfully thwarted a pirate attack on Nov 3, 2018, whilst northbound through the Red Sea west of Yemen. The tanker was on ita way from Poer Klang to Rotterdam when two suspicious skiffs approached from the port side at a distance of 1,5 miles. The alarm was raised and the Master and the on board security team mustered on the bridge. Hand flares were fired towards the skiffs as warning shots as they were continuously approaching towards the vessel. The master broadcast a security message about the attempted attack and also contacted a close by warship. Both skiffs ceased the approach after flares were fired from the vessel and passed by the stern. One of the skiffs which passed astern again tried to approach the vessel, and once again hand flares were fired. The skiff then slowed down and moved towards another vessel.

On September 1 the chemical and product tanker Stena Imperial was named in Savannah, Georgia. The Stena Imperial is a 50,000 DWT MR tanker based on the IMOIIMAX concept, owned by a joint venture of which Stena Bulk and Indonesian Golden Agri Resources (GAR) each own 50 percent. The vessel is a further development of a well-established and successful concept offering high cargo flexibility and lower fuel consumtion. IMOIIMAX tankers have been designed to transport both vegetable oils, chemicals as well as clean and dirty petroleum products.