Tag: kidnapping

Reporting indicates that the Liberian flagged Heavy Load carrier Zhen Hua 7, was boarded while drifting off Sao Tome, resulting in the kidnap of 14 crew.

Pirates boarded the LNG tanker Methane Princess, whilst at anchor off Malabo, on October 17. The pirates attacked the ship during off loading operations, and kidnapped one crewmember.

Piracy and armed robbery increased on the world’s seas in the first nine months of 2020, with a 40% increase in the number of kidnappings reported in the Gulf of Guinea, compared with the same period in 2019, according to latest figures by ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

Following an increase in kidnap for ransom attacks in the Gulf of Guinea beyond Nigeria’s economic zone, the Joint War Committee has redrawn the listed extended risk area in the West Africa region, marking an increase in vessel insurance premiums.

An unknown number of pirates boarded the reefer Water Phoenix, while 31 nm south west of Lagos, Nigeria, resulting in the kidnap of two crew. This is the third incident in the waters south of Lagos within 2020.  

Following the piracy attack onboard the product tanker MT Curacao Trader about a month ago, the 13 kidnapped crewmembers have been released from captivity.

A total of five South Korean fishermen were released in Nigeria, over a month after they were kidnapped from their vessel Panofi Frontier in the Gulf of Guinea, South Korean officials informed. 

According to Reuters, seven Russian seafarers were kidnapped following a piracy attack onboard a Liberian-flagged product tanker at Gulf of Guinea.

On 17 July the product vessel MT Curcacao Ttader was been boarded 244nm South Cotonou in Nigeria, by 8 armed individuals. The pirates kidnapped 15 crew.

A total of 14 crew members were abducted from two vessels in two separate piracy attacks in the Gulf of Guinea on 2 July, according to reports by ReCAAP Focal Point (Singapore). The first occurred on a FPSO anchored at Okwori field offshore, Nigeria and the second on a general cargo ship while drifting in the Gulf of Guinea.