Four crew members of an unnamed
Singapore-flagged tug/supply vessel were kidnapped on October 29, some 60
nautical miles south of the Republic of Congo, West Africa, Asian piracy
watchdog ReCAAP informed.
Singapore-flagged tug/supply vessel were kidnapped on October 29, some 60
nautical miles south of the Republic of Congo, West Africa, Asian piracy
watchdog ReCAAP informed.
A group of 10 perpetrators armed with guns
boarded the anchored ship, assaulted the crew and damaged the ship’s radio
equipment, before abducting the vessel’s master, chief engineer, chief officer
and a member of the deck crew.
boarded the anchored ship, assaulted the crew and damaged the ship’s radio
equipment, before abducting the vessel’s master, chief engineer, chief officer
and a member of the deck crew.
The abducted crew were taken to a
Panama-flagged tanker, previously hijacked by pirates, and reportedly
proceeding to Nigeria, ReCAAP said.
Panama-flagged tanker, previously hijacked by pirates, and reportedly
proceeding to Nigeria, ReCAAP said.
It has been reported that the vessel’s 2nd
engineer and oiler sustained minor injuries as a result of a scuffle with the
perpetrators. The remaining crew was safe. No items were stolen from the ship.
engineer and oiler sustained minor injuries as a result of a scuffle with the
perpetrators. The remaining crew was safe. No items were stolen from the ship.
“The company’s Emergency Response Team (ERT)
was activated and the ship with the remaining 11 crew on board has been
directed to proceed to the port of Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo,” ReCAAP added.
was activated and the ship with the remaining 11 crew on board has been
directed to proceed to the port of Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo,” ReCAAP added.
As informed, the company had arranged for a
medical team to board the ship to assess the crew’s health condition and
provide assistance and emotional support.
medical team to board the ship to assess the crew’s health condition and
provide assistance and emotional support.
The local authorities are said to have
established contact with the ship.
established contact with the ship.
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
had contacted the relevant authorities and sought the assistance of the
Nigerian Navy to keep a lookout for the tanker and the abducted crew,” ReCAAP concluded.
had contacted the relevant authorities and sought the assistance of the
Nigerian Navy to keep a lookout for the tanker and the abducted crew,” ReCAAP concluded.
Another ship was attacked on the same day off
Congo. As World Maritime News reported, an LPG
tanker carrying out bunkering operations on October 29, around 101 nautical
miles West of Pointe Noire, the Republic of the Congo, was approached and
fired upon by pirates in a speed boat.
Congo. As World Maritime News reported, an LPG
tanker carrying out bunkering operations on October 29, around 101 nautical
miles West of Pointe Noire, the Republic of the Congo, was approached and
fired upon by pirates in a speed boat.
The LPG tanker was forced to stop bunkering
procedure and cast off in order to avoid being boarded.
procedure and cast off in order to avoid being boarded.
The master employed evasive manoeuvres and
increased speed, managing to escape the pirates.
increased speed, managing to escape the pirates.
All crew members are reported to be safe.
World Maritime News.
