Two crew members of an offshore supply vessel were weekend kidnapped by
pirates, while their ship was underway around 97 nautical miles South West of
Brass, Nigeria.
pirates, while their ship was underway around 97 nautical miles South West of
Brass, Nigeria.
According to the information provided by the International Maritime
Bureau’s (IMB) piracy reporting center, a group of pirates attacked and boarded
an unidentified offshore supply vessel while underway on April 19th.
Bureau’s (IMB) piracy reporting center, a group of pirates attacked and boarded
an unidentified offshore supply vessel while underway on April 19th.
The crew managed to raise the alarm and non-essential crew members
retreated into the citadel.
retreated into the citadel.
Once onboard, pirates robbed and kidnapped two crew members, identified
as the vessel’s Captain and Chief Engineer.
as the vessel’s Captain and Chief Engineer.
All remaining crew are reported to be safe and proceeding to a safe port.
Two more attacks occurred on the same day in the region. Namely, seven
pirates armed with guns approached a Panama-flagged tanker some 58 nautical
miles south west of Brass, Nigeria.
pirates armed with guns approached a Panama-flagged tanker some 58 nautical
miles south west of Brass, Nigeria.
However, the crew activated the water hose and master commenced evasive
maneuvers that enabled the ship to fend off the attack.
maneuvers that enabled the ship to fend off the attack.
“Due to the high free board and hardening measures deployed by the
vessel, the pirates aborted the attack and moved away,” the reporting centre
said.
vessel, the pirates aborted the attack and moved away,” the reporting centre
said.
All crew of 28 members are reported to be safe.
The third target of the day was a multipurpose offshore vessel which was
attacked by pirates causing damage to the bridge. However, the crew managed to
escape pirates by retreating to the citadel and has been escorted to Agbami
terminal.
attacked by pirates causing damage to the bridge. However, the crew managed to
escape pirates by retreating to the citadel and has been escorted to Agbami
terminal.
The pirate activity did not subside the day after, as a Spanish-flagged
LNG tanker was attacked on route to Port Harcourt.
LNG tanker was attacked on route to Port Harcourt.
The ship’s identity has not been disclosed, but it is believed that the
ship is Bilbao Knutsen, owned by Knutsen OAS.
ship is Bilbao Knutsen, owned by Knutsen OAS.
The attack has been confirmed to World Maritime News by UK-based
security agency Clearwater, saying that this incident is the sixth incident
that occurred in and around this area within 24hrs.
security agency Clearwater, saying that this incident is the sixth incident
that occurred in and around this area within 24hrs.
The LNG tanker managed to thwart the attack and proceeded to Bonny with
all crew members accounted for.
all crew members accounted for.
Clearwater received reports of two further separate pirate attacks on
Wednesday targeting two offshore supply vessels in close proximity.
Wednesday targeting two offshore supply vessels in close proximity.
A Nigerian Navy vessel has been tasked and managed to deter the pirates
from the scene. All crew members are accounted for and the vessels were
escorted by the navy to Onne port, reports World Maritime News.
from the scene. All crew members are accounted for and the vessels were
escorted by the navy to Onne port, reports World Maritime News.
Meanwhile, Indonesia has issued a warning to all vessels to stay clear
of transiting areas around the southern Philippines as the number of hijackings
along the shipping route between the Philippines and Indonesia increases,
according to Reuters.
of transiting areas around the southern Philippines as the number of hijackings
along the shipping route between the Philippines and Indonesia increases,
according to Reuters.
The warning follows a recent surge in pirate attacks on the route,
through which some USD 40 billion worth of cargo transits per year, as over a
dozen seafarers were kidnapped by pirate groups linked to Islamist extremists,
the Abu Sayyaf, while transporting coal to the Philippines.
through which some USD 40 billion worth of cargo transits per year, as over a
dozen seafarers were kidnapped by pirate groups linked to Islamist extremists,
the Abu Sayyaf, while transporting coal to the Philippines.
As a result, Indonesian naval forces have instructed commercial vessels
to avoid the areas around the southern Philippines, adding that the navy is
working with the Philippines on increasing patrols in the pirate-infested
waters in order to curb the hijackings.
to avoid the areas around the southern Philippines, adding that the navy is
working with the Philippines on increasing patrols in the pirate-infested
waters in order to curb the hijackings.
Earlier this week, Indonesia suspended coal shipments from its
Banjarmasin and Tarakan ports to the Philippines, while the measure could be
adopted in other pots as well, as at least fourteen people were reported as
kidnapped over the recent period from tugs and barges.
Banjarmasin and Tarakan ports to the Philippines, while the measure could be
adopted in other pots as well, as at least fourteen people were reported as
kidnapped over the recent period from tugs and barges.
At the end of March an Indonesian crew of ten people were kidnapped when
a tug and a barge were hijacked in the Philippines, followed by four more a
couple of days later.
a tug and a barge were hijacked in the Philippines, followed by four more a
couple of days later.
Reuters cited the Indonesian chief security minister Luhut Pansjaitan as
saying that the country doesn’t want the area of the southern Philippines,
where the pirate activities are most frequent, to become “a new Somalia.”
saying that the country doesn’t want the area of the southern Philippines,
where the pirate activities are most frequent, to become “a new Somalia.”
Furthermore, the US Department of State has issued a warning to US
citizens “to avoid all non-essential travel to the Sulu Archipelago and through
the southern Sulu Sea, and to exercise extreme caution when traveling to the
island of Mindanao,” due to continued terrorist threats, insurgent activities
and kidnappings, reports World Maritime News.
citizens “to avoid all non-essential travel to the Sulu Archipelago and through
the southern Sulu Sea, and to exercise extreme caution when traveling to the
island of Mindanao,” due to continued terrorist threats, insurgent activities
and kidnappings, reports World Maritime News.
