MV Asian Glory

Last updated
History
NameAsian Glory
OwnerZodiac Maritime Ltd
Operator EUKOR
Port of registryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Builder Hyundai Heavy Industries, Ulsan, South Korea
Launched30 July 1994
Completed1994
Identification IMO number:  9070474
StatusIn service
NotesHijacked 1 January 2010; released 11 June 2010
General characteristics
Type Pure car/truck carrier
Tonnage
  • 44,818  GT
  • 13,363  DWT
Length184.1 m (604 ft)
Beam30.6 m (100 ft)
Draught8.8 m (29 ft)

MV Asian Glory is a United Kingdom-flagged vehicle carrier owned by Zodiac Maritime Ltd of London. Built in 1994 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, South Korea, the vessel has a gross tonnage of 44,818 and a deadweight tonnage of 13,363. [1] The ship is operated by EUKOR Car Carriers on a time charter basis, primarily transporting Hyundai and Kia vehicles. [2]

Contents

Hijacking

On 1 January 2010, Asian Glory was hijacked by Somali pirates approximately 1,000 km (620 mi; 540 nmi) off the Horn of Africa while en route from Singapore to Saudi Arabia. [3] [4] The vessel was carrying 2,405 vehicles, including 2,388 new Hyundai and Kia cars destined for the Saudi Arabian market. [5] [6]

The pirates used a previously hijacked Pakistani fishing vessel, FV Shahzaib, as a mother ship to carry out the attack. The Pakistani vessel and its 29 crew members were subsequently released. [7]

Although Asian Glory was registered in the United Kingdom, no British citizens were among the 25 crew members on board. The crew consisted of ten Ukrainians, eight Bulgarians, five Indians, and two Romanians. [5] The ship's captain was Veliko Velikov, a Bulgarian national from Varna. [5]

During the months of captivity, unconfirmed reports emerged that the pirates had separated Captain Velikov from the rest of the crew in early March 2010. [5] Reports from EUNAVFOR Somalia indicated that the pirates may have used Asian Glory as a mother ship for further hijacking operations, as the vessel was spotted several times in open waters off the Somali coast. [5]

Release

Asian Glory was released on 11 June 2010 following the payment of a ransom. [8] [9] While the exact amount was not officially disclosed, reports indicated that the pirates had demanded approximately US$15 million, allegedly equivalent to the combined value of the ship's insurance and cargo. [2] The vessel was escorted to Oman by a British naval ship, with all 25 crew members reported safe and the entire cargo of vehicles returned intact and undamaged. [2] [9]

Zodiac Maritime declined to provide further details about the release, citing concerns for the safety of crew members on other vessels still held by Somali pirates. [2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Asian Glory - IMO 9070474". ShipSpotting.com. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Pirates release Asian Glory car carrier". Automotive Logistics. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  3. ↑ "Pirates seize second UK-flagged vessel in days". BBC News. 2 January 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  4. ↑ Straziuso, Jason (2 January 2010). "2 Ships Reported Hijacked Off Somali Coast". The New York Times . Associated Press . Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Somali Pirates Release 'Asian Glory', Kidnapped Bulgarian Sailors". Novinite.com. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  6. ↑ "Somali pirates hijack ship with Hyundai and Kia cars". Paul Tan's Automotive News. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  7. ↑ "Somali pirates free Pakistan ship". GEO News. 5 January 2010. Archived from the original on 8 January 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  8. ↑ "Asian Glory arrives safely in Oman". The Sofia Echo. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  9. 1 2 "UK-flagged ship released by pirates after ransom drop". CNN. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
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