On July 21, 2020, M/V Jaeger owned by Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc., embarked three security guards in the Indian Ocean before sailing towards the Red Sea. Once onboard, one of the guards did not surrender his weapon to the vessel’s Captain as is normal protocol, and then took control of and deviated the ship from its course as he voiced his grievances and demanded compensation.
While the guard discharged his weapon on board the vessel, at no time did he directly threaten or harm any of the crewmembers, the company stated. The remaining two guards did not participate in this action. Unbeknownst to the Company, there was an employment dispute between the guard and his employer, and he had not been paid for several months.
Eagle Bulk Shipping issued a press statement to explain key actions that followed; in coordination with maritime security experts, the company worked to deescalate the situation and after a period of approximately three days, the guard surrendered his weapon and allowed the ship to continue on its original course. Relevant authorities were kept appraised throughout the incident, and the guard was finally disembarked.
Furthermore, the company maintained regular contact with the Captain throughout this event, and V Ships, the vessel’s crewing manager, also maintained an active dialogue with the crew’s families to keep them updated.
