The attack took place within the Maritime Security Patrol Area[4] and was attributed to six pirates armed with AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades in a high-speed skiff.

(Nick Davis, Head, APMSS, November 29, 2008) Unarmed, the security guards attempted to repel the attackers for about 40 minutes by firing water cannon, zigzagging the skiff, and using a LRAD,[7] a non-lethal weapon that fires focused sound beams producing excruciating pain.

A distress signal was received at 0447 hours UTC by the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre, in Kuala Lumpur.

[4] After the pirates boarded the ship and continued to shoot at the security force, the guards managed to escape by jumping overboard.

[11] The vessel was finally released on 24 January 2009 thanks to the efforts of Capt Satya Sahoo and his team from Ishima and the owners ISEC.