In a statement the organisation, whichflagged the 74,998-dwtKerala(built 2009), confirmed that the incident was not a hoax.
Duringthe hijacking the registry claims the pirates, who are believed to be Nigeriannationals, disabled the ship’s AIS and other pieces of communication equipment.
Inan addition it says the hijackers painted over identifying features like thevessel’s funnel, name and IMO number in an effort to evade detection.
Theregistry confirmed the fourth engineer was stabbed and determined that thepirates physically assaulted several other members of the crew as well.
“The pirates also undertookthree separate ship-to-ship transfers of cargo amounting to the theft ofapproximately 12,271 tonnes of cargo,” it added.
According to the findings ofthe investigation a team of Angolan Navy personnel boarded the Kerala in Temaand directed it back to Angola after the pirates disembarked on 26 January,which was eight days after the ships was first taken.
Today, the registry noted the unit was cleared for discharge at the Port of Luanda on 19February but claims a group of policemen have prevented it from leaving Angolaand are not allowing anyone on board without permission from their superiors.
