Jakarta: A palm oil carrier that was last month hijacked and stolen has been found in Thailand with its cargo intact.

Eight perpetrators onboard the vessel were also apprehended by Thai authorities. 

The Indonesia-registered carrier Srikandi 515 was located yesterday approximately 9 nm off Narathiwat province, Thailand, by the Royal Thai Navy and Thai Marine Police.

Srikandi 515 had reportedly been repainted and renamed Chong Li 2, according to information from the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).

The vessel has been escorted back to Songkhla, Thailand, for further investigation.

Perpetrators boarded Srikandi 515 in waters off Sampit, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, on October 9 at around 0600 hrs (local time).

The vessel was en route to Gresik, East Java, Indonesia, from Sampit, laden with 3,100 tons of palm oil.

The perpetrators reportedly blindfolded and tied the crew, took control of the vessel and sailed in a north-westerly direction, reports say. [28/11/14]