Izumi Missing

October 12, 2010
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha
NYK-Hinode Line Ltd.

At 08:53 a.m. on October 10 (local time 14:53 JST), the multipurpose cargo ship Izumi (gross tonnage 14,162 tons) operated by NYK-Hinode Line Ltd. sent an SSAS (Ship Security Alert System) signal to the shipowner. After that, the shipowner received several more SSAS signals unilaterally, but has not been able to establish two-way contact with the ship. Therefore, we assume the signals mean that the ship was likely abducted by pirates. Further, a non-Japanese warship in the area also reported to concerned authorities that Izumi had been boarded by pirates, so we are working quickly to ascertain the truth. The ship was loaded, mainly with steel products from Japan, and was proceeding off the coast of Mombasa, Africa.

About Izumi

Vessel name: Izumi

Gross tonnage: 14,162 tons

Length overall: 147.20 m

Flag of registry: Panama

Year built: 2007

Crew members: 20 (all Filipinos, including the captain)

Cargo: Steel products

Shipowner: Fair Field Shipping Co., Ltd.

We will inform you once we obtain more-detailed information.

* NYK-Hinode Line, Ltd.

The company was founded in 1912 as Hinode Kisen Co. Ltd. It developed primarily as a carrier of heavy cargo and in February 2001 became a wholly owned subsidiary of NYK. Newly added business activities made it a comprehensive operator of liner and semi-liner conventional-cargo freighters. And in July 2002, Hinode Kisen was renamed NYK-Hinode Line Ltd. to signal its membership in the NYK Group.

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