Biggest Ship Seizure in the History of Maritime Piracy

The biggest ship ever seized in the history of maritime piracy is undoubtedly the Sirius Star, a Very Large Crude Carrier or VLCC owned by Saudi Arabia.

The supertanker became the target of Somali pirates in open waters, which was thought to be unusual since it was away from the usual piracy hotspots close to the Gulf of Aden.

The incident unfolded on November 15, 2008, when the tanker was sailing in the Indian Ocean and was 450 nm off the coast of Kenya. It was en route from Saudi Arabia to the United States by way of the Cape of Good Hope.

Per reports, the pirates had travelled for three to four days to intercept the tanker, showcasing their increased operational range and planning, which shocked the maritime community and demonstrated the vulnerability of the world’s energy supplies.

The Sirius Star is more than 1000 ft long and is a part of the biggest class of oil tankers, weighing 300,000 tonnes and having