As of 30 June 2020, the kidnapping threat in Sabah and Semporna, Malaysia, targeting foreigners and the abduction of crew from ships passing by the Tawi-Tawi and Sabah waters, still stands, the Philippine Coast Guard informed ReCAAP ISC.
Dryad reports that the fishing vessel Panofi Frontiner has been attacked by several gunmen on board one speed boat 61nm South of Cotonou Port.
Nine Georgian sailors who were kidnapped by pirates from a ship flying the Panamese flag in Nigeria have been released and will return to their homeland.
A group of approximately five ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) members armed with assorted firearms is planning to conduct kidnapping activities in undisclosed areas in Sabah, Malaysia, ReCAAP ISC warned.
Reporting indicates that the cargo vessel Rio Mitong has been attacked by a single speedboat with an unknown number of persons onboard. The perpetrators kidnapoed of two crew members.
Dryad Global, maritime security company, reported that 10 crew members have been kidnapped from a product tanker carrier 178 nautical miles south of Lagos, Nigeria, in the Gulf of Guinea.
A total of ten crew members were kidnapped from the crude oil tanker ‘Alpine Penelope’ while underway in Gulf of Guinea, on 20 February. The Liberian-flagged ship was heading to Lagos, Nigeria, when it became subject of an attack about 76 nm SW Cotonou.
After the attack on the crude oil tanker ‘Duke’, 20 crew were abducted on December 15. According to V.Ships Management (India) 19 seafarers were released on January 19, but one crew lost his life. Now, new information emerges, noting that the pirates provided medical assistance to the ill crew member, but were not able to save him.
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) of the United States Department of Transportation issued one new advisory to commercial shipping, canceling the earlier ones issued in 2019. Namely, the 2020-002-Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom, cancels the the U.S. Maritime Advisory 2019-010.
A total of eight crew men were kidnapped from a Malaysian-registered fishing trawler which was found abandoned on 17 January, at approximately 4.24 nm off Pulau Tambisan, Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia, according to data provided by ReCAAP ISC.
