Tag: Gulf of Guinea

Maersk is calling on authorities to launch an "effective military capacity" in the Gulf of Guinea, in order to enhance safety for vessels, after two piracy attacks on Maersk vessels in less than a month.

The Singaporean-flagged container ship MV Maersk Cardiff has been reportedly approached by a small vessel, while 150nm southwest of Bonny, Nigeria, in the Gulf of Guinea. When the incident occurred, the crew mustered in the citadel.

The International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB) issued its annual report concerning international piracy incidents, highlighting that the Gulf of Guinea is a hot spot for piracy incidents and remains a crucial challenge for seafarers.

Piracy, Armed Robbery, and Kidnapping for Ransom (KFR) continues to serve as a significant threat to U.S. flagged operators with vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).

Four crew members, who had been kidnapped from the Marshall islands-flagged product tanker MV Agisilaos in late November, were released on 6 January, the owner company Diamond S Shipping Inc. informed. 

The Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC) expressed its concern over the continuing piracy at the Gulf of Guinea, stressing that despite the efforts being made by the whole industry the situation remains dangerous for ships sailing there.

In its weekly report for 22-28 December, ReCAAP ISC said it did not receive any reports of armed robbery against ships in Asia, but informed of one attempted incident to an LNG tanker while underway off the Gulf of Guinea.

The Maltese-flagged container ship PORT GDYNIA was approached and boarded by an unknown number of attackers off West Africa, latest information by maritime security intelligence firm Dryad Global suggests. 

The Singaporean-flagged container ship Maersk Cadiz was boarded by an unknown number of attackers while underway off West Africa, on Saturday afternoon, marking the latest in a series of attacks against ships in the region this year. 

An unknown number of attackers boarded the Cameroonian-flagged general cargo ship M/V STEVIA 28nm SW Brass, kidnapping eight crew members. This incident is the 27th kidnapping with a total number of 138 persons kidnapped in Gulf of Guinea HRA in 2020.