Hijacked coal tugboat belongs to Patria Maritime Lines

The Brahma 12 tugboat which was reportedly hijacked by Abu Sayyaf militant Islamist group while it was pulling a coal barge belongs to PT Patria Maritime Lines, according to Banjarmasin Post.

Banjarmasin port?s head Takwin Masuku said based on its manifest, the Anand 12 barge carried around 7,500 tons of coal. The coal belongs PT Antang Gunung Meratus and was carried from Sungai Putting area, Tapin regency, South Kalimantan province.

?There were 10 crew members of the barge, including the captain,? Takwim said on Tuesday.

According to reports, the Abu Sayyaf group hijacked the barge when it entered the Philippine water and held the 10 crew members hostage. They demanded 50 million pesos or around Rp 15 billion in ransom for their release.

It remains unclear when the incident happened, Kompas reported, while saying that the group contacted the company that owns the boat twice since March 26, demanding the 50 million peso ransom.

Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu said his office has started communications with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Ministry of Defense on how to end the hijacking.

?The hijackers demand Rp 15 billion in ransom. If we can have the hostages released without paying any ransom, why should we pay the ransom?? the minister was quoted by Kompas as saying. (*)