She was transiting the Red Sea from the Far East to Rotterdam for discharge, Stena Bulk said.
Two suspicious skiffs were seen approaching ‘Stena Imperial’ from the port side at a distance of 1.5 nautical 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 continued on their approach to the vessel.
The Master broadcast a security message about the attempted attack and also contacted a warship close by. Both skiffs ceased their approach and passed by the stern. One of the skiffs again tried to approach the vessel once more and again hand flares were fired. The skiff then slowed down and moved towards another vessel.
Stena Bulk confirmed that it employs professional security firms whose teams comprise well-educated former soldiers. Normally there are three or four people in each team on board the ships passing through a high risk area.
The areas where guards are currently on board Stena Bulk vessels are off the coasts of Yemen and Nigeria. The team is not allowed to use its weapons unless the Master has approved.
Stena Bulk explained that, while guards always follow the Master's orders, in situations like this, they will provide professional advice, on which the Master then bases his decisions.
"On the whole the pirate situation in the Gulf of Aden has calmed down and there have not been any hijackings for a long time," said Erik Hånell, CEO Stena Bulk. "But when we sail off the coast of Yemen we choose to use guards due to the lawless state prevailing in the country at the moment.
“This has created the same kind of desperation in the population as we saw in Somalia a number of years ago. But we are monitoring the situation closely via our security department, which also keeps an eye on the situation in general on the global level. For us it is extremely important to take the measures that are required so that the crew feel safe, and that we at the same time follow the local regulations," he stressed.