Tag: Gulf of Guinea

The fishing vessel 'Marine 711' was en route to anchovies fishing grounds, with 40 crewmen onboard, when it was hijacked on March 26. The attackers released the vessel on 28 March, but took with them at least 5 hostages, including the captain, chief officer and chief engineer of Korean nationality, and two more men of Ghanaian and Greek nationalities.

Five pirates with guns attacked the product tanker ST Marseille at an anchorage off Cotonou, Benin. The pirates boarded the ship, and two guards were injured from gunshots. The product tanker did not have any cargo onboard when it was attacked, something that made the pirates to abort their attack and leave.

Piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea is becoming an increasing concern to the maritime sector due to the recent increase in activity in comparison to the decline shown in other areas including Somalia. It is gathered that unlike pirates from Somalia who are after ransom, pirates in West Africa in the past have resorted to either part /full cargo sale and/or ransom.

Six pirates armed with AK-47 rifles in a black hull speed boat approached and attempted to board a crude oil tanker several times, while the vessel was underway, around 25 nautical miles Southeast of Brass, Nigeria, on 19 February.

The tanker 'Marine Express', which had been missing in the Gulf of Guinea since Friday and was feared to be hijacked by pirates, is now back under the command of the captain and crew, with all crew members reported to be safe.

A tanker with 22 Indian crew and 13,500 tons of gasoline onboard is missing in the Gulf of Guinea since Friday, 2 February. The 'Marine Express' tanker, operated by Hong Kong-based Anglo-Eastern, was last seen in Benin’s waters at 3:30 a.m., after which contact was lost.

The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker 'MT Barrett' has been released from pirates, after captivity of six days, with all crew reported as safe, the owner company Union Maritime informed. The announcement comes only after a day the company confirmed that the missing tanker had been subject of a piracy attack in Gulf of Guinea.

The tanker 'MT Barrett', that went missing earlier this week while anchored off Benin, West Africa, has been subject of a piracy attack in Gulf of Guinea since Wednesday 10th January, the owner company Union Maritime confirmed in an official statement.

OEF Research cites five ways in which criminal networks exploit inadequate governance at sea. By drugs trafficking, robbing countries of their offshore oil, controlling smuggling routes, launching assaults & exploiting archipelagos, they manage to undermine political stability around the world.

Union Maritime released a statement in which it informs that its vessel, MT Barrett, a tanker which was at anchor off Benin, West Africa has not been heard from since late on Tuesday 9th January. The company alerted the local authorities on Wednesday and is now exploring all possible options and efforts as it monitor the situation.