London (Platts)--29Nov2010/555 am EST/1055 GMT
The Indian military is scouring the waters off the coast of Goa after the fourth attack was reported on shipping in the area so far this month, regional piracy watchdog ReCAAP said over the weekend.
Pirates armed with guns fired at an Indian crude oil tanker, leaving bullet marks on its hull, in an attack on Thursday, said the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia. No crew were hurt in the attack, and the ship eventually escaped with little damage.
The tanker, the Guru Gobind Singh, was sailing about 336 nautical miles (386.4 miles) west of Mormugao when it it came under attack by a small skiff with about seven pirates. According to one shipping website, marinetraffic.com, the tanker is expected to arrive at the Saudi loading port of Ras Tanura on Tuesday.
"The Indian authorities have dispatched air and surface units to the area which lies about 200 nautical miles beyond the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone, to prevent any further attacks," said ReCAAP.
The watchdog said the attack was being blamed on east African pirates.
