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.
Steamship Mutual informed that it received information from TCI Africa that new measures have been taken by the Port of Cotonou to help protect against acts of Piracy for vessels both in the port of Cotonou and at anchorage in the waters of Benin.
Another piracy incident was reported in Nigeria, as a group of armed men fired upon a containership, located about 19 nautical miles South West of Bayelsa on January 21, Tuesday. Following, the crew has been reported to be safe and unharmed.
The eight crew members that were abducted from the Greek-flagged “Happy Lady” tanker while at Limboh port in Cameroon have been released. The attack had taken place in the end of December.
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.
Nineteen crew that were kidnapped by pirates from the oil tanker ‘MT Duke’ off Benin last month, have been released, while one died during the captivity. The twenty Indian crew were kidnapped on December 15.
Singapore’s Information Fusion Centre (IFC) issued a paper focusing on the increasing tensions and attacks taking place in the Singapore Strait concerning the timeframe between November to December 2019, providing recommendations for ships sailing in the area.
Grad now informs that the number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Strait jumped nearly fourfold during 2019, and further advises ships transiting the Singapore Strait to remain vigilant and maintain an adequate anti-piracy watch.
On December 31, pirates attacked the Greek-flagged “Happy Lady” tanker from Limboh port in Cameroon; The attackers managed to kidnap 8 crewmembers out of which 5 of Greek nationality, two Filipinos and one Ukrainian.
Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) reported that all seven abducted crew members have been released, and have met with the company’s senior representatives, taken for health checks. After 31 days of being captive, the crew were taken for medical checks and other necessary arrangements were organised and all have now returned to their home countries and their families.
