COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Pirates boarded a Danish-owned Liberian-flagged oil tanker within the Gulf of Guinea over the weekend, the proprietor mentioned Tuesday, including that contact with the 16 crew members had been misplaced.
The 135-meter-long Monjasa Reformer “experienced an emergency situation” on Saturday round 160 miles (260 kilometers) west of Port Pointe-Noire within the Republic of Congo, proprietor Monjasa mentioned.
The shipowner added that the crew had sought refuge within the tanker’s safe room or “citadel” when the pirates boarded, “in accordance with the onboard anti-piracy emergency protocol”.
“Onboard communications channels are currently down and we are working with the local authorities to establish communication to understand the situation on board and provide all the support needed by the crew to overcome these dreadful events,” Monjasa mentioned.
It mentioned “the vessel was sitting idle” when the incident came about.
Monjasa declined to present info on the nationalities of the crew members when requested by AFP.
According to an official on the port of Pointe-Noire, the ship had arrived in Congolese waters on March 18 and left on March 22, and was in worldwide waters when it was attacked.
“Three men took control of the ship and since then the crew can no longer be reached,” the official advised AFP.
Piracy altering
Noel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy reporting middle advised AFP a “missing vessel broadcast had been issued for passing ships to report to us if they come across it.”
“We encourage coastal authorities with resources to assist. We need regional cooperation,” he added.
Pirates have lengthy been a threat within the Gulf of Guinea — a significant transport route stretching 5,700 kilometers from Senegal to Angola, with Nigerian gangs finishing up most assaults.
But since 2021, shippers say pirates have been raiding farther out in worldwide waters.
Their violence and complex techniques prompted pleas from shippers for a extra strong international naval presence just like the mission to curb assaults from Somali pirates a decade in the past.
Many of the assaults lately have been carried out by Nigerian prison gangs who strike out in pace boats from hideouts within the Delta area to raid vessels.
Some gangs have captured bigger fishing vessels which they use as a “mothership” base to raid additional out to sea.
Lull in assaults
But the area, which sees numerous site visitors from oil tankers, has additionally seen a lull in exercise just lately.
According to a report by The Maritime Information Cooperation and Awareness Center (MICA), three ships had been attacked within the space in 2022 in comparison with 26 in 2019.
The sharp decline in Gulf of Guinea assaults contributed to 2022 recording the bottom variety of incidents of piracy and armed theft worldwide with 132 circumstances, in response to the annual report from the International Maritime Bureau.
Two different assaults had been recorded within the area in 2023 thus far.
Denmark, house to transport large Maersk, despatched a naval frigate in 2021 to patrol the waters, after the nation had pushed for a stronger worldwide naval presence.
The Absalon-class Danish frigate Esbern Snare — geared up with a helicopter and round 175 marines onboard — was despatched to patrol the waters between November 2021 and March 2022, a interval when the danger of assaults was larger.
Skirmishes and options
The Danish Shipping affiliation mentioned the most recent incident exhibits “problems with piracy off the west coast of Africa are far from solved.”
With the warfare in Ukraine, “We fully understand… Denmark’s naval military capacity is needed elsewhere,” the group mentioned.
But it recommended “navy vessels from several countries in the area… particularly the EU countries should coordinate their presence” to supply the perfect cowl.
The gulf has durations of calmer seas when it’s simpler for pirates to race out from hidden bases on the Nigeria coast to raid industrial vessels offshore and kidnap crew.
In November 2021, sailors from the frigate had been concerned in a firefight ensuing within the deaths of 5 suspected pirates.
A suspected Nigerian pirate was transferred to Denmark to obtain medical care after the skirmish.
After needing to have his leg amputated the person, who has additionally utilized for asylum in Denmark, was placed on trial for and convicted of endangering the lives of the Danish sailors. — Agence France-Presse
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
