Theresa VIII - HMCS Fredericton watched ransom?

According to the Bangkok Post, "A picture taken on January 6 from a Canadian patrol frigate shows the North-Korean-crewed, Virgin Islands-owned MV Theresa VIII chemical tanker moored off a beach near Harardhere, Somali", That would be HMCS Fredericton which was at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden March 14, "HMCS Fredericton continues with her anti piracy patrols" The crew on the Fredericton say they’ve noted the movement of insurgents to Yemen from Somalia in the region, but it’s not their mission to stop it."

Theresa VIII: The Bulgarian Connection

Cosmos Shipping Ltd. Bulgaria Currently, the company is acting as ship manager of handy bulk carriers and is focused on expanding its fleet in the dry bulk sector.
Wilmar International Group.,The following is the list of associates of the Group
Cosmos Shipping Ltd - British Virgin Islands Ship-owning and chartering – 50%

Wilmar Holdings Private Ltd.
Wilmar was set up by Kuok Khoon Hong and his Indonesian partner Martua Sitorus. Khoon Hong, nephew of Malaysia’s “sugar king” Robert Kuok, had cut his teeth on the grains and edible oils business while working for his uncle at Kuok Oils & Grains Pte Ltd and also Federal Flour Mills Bhd before venturing out on his own, some say due to a difference of opinions between the two Kuoks.

It also formed a joint venture with Nizhny Novgorod Fats & Oils Group and Delta Exports Pte Ltd to spearhead expansion into Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States comprising former Soviet Union republics.

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) did the deal because they think it’s a good idea. Because Wilmar trades in Singapore, it is subject to governance standards that differ from North America. Many assets are in China. Much of Wilmar’s products revolve around Palm Oil which is reviled by nutritionists. ADM will become the second largest shareholder.

Theresa VIII: Kuok Khoon Hong

The captain of the Theresa VIII died last night from gunshot wounds he got during the hijack, the pirates say.

Mr Kuok Khoon Hong, aged 59, is the Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Wilmar International Limited, Integrated agribusiness. "We own a fleet of liquid bulk vessels to meet part of our transportation needs. The ownership of vessels provides us the flexibility in our merchandising operations."
Wilmar International Group
Wilmar International Ltd.
Previous Directorships
Director: Theresa Shipping Co Pte Ltd

Wilmar Ship Holdings Pte. Ltd., (“WSH”) a wholly-owned ship owner and operator of the
Company, has acquired a 60% interest in Raffles Shipping Corporation Pte. Ltd. (“RSC”). RSC will manage and operate WSH’s fleet of liquid oil tankers.
Investments in associates
The following is the list of associates of the Group
Cosmos Shipping Ltd (4) British Virgin Islands Ship-owning and chartering – 50

Kiribati-flag
The Gilbert Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in 1971 and gained complete independence in 1979 under the new name of Kiribati. The US also relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and Line Island groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with Kiribati.

Kiribati-flag Theresa VIII IMO: 8105923 hijacked

On 16 November a North Korean-crewed, Kiribati-flag, UK-British Virgin Islands owned[ COSMOS Shipping, Ltd.](operated from Singapore [RAFFLES SHIPMANAGEMENT SERVICES PTE .LTD]) ex-Chembulk Clipper, ex-Globe Oceanic, single-hulled Chemical Tanker named the MV Theresa VIII was hijacked in the south Somali Basin, 180 nautical miles North West of the Seychelles. Theresa VIII has a deadweight of 22,294 tonnes and a crew of 28 North Koreans. The vessel, which was heading for Mombasa, has turned around and is now heading north.

Vessel's Details:
Ship Type: Tanker - Hazard C (Minor)
Year Built: 1981
Length x Breadth: 56 m X 25 m
DeadWeight: 22294 t
Speed recorded (Max / Average): 14.4 / 13 knots
Flag: Kiribati [KI]
Call Sign: T3RH
IMO: 8105923, MMSI: 529201000


The country's capital of Tarawa has historic sites and artefacts where one of the bloodiest battles of World War II took place.