Beware of Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria Pirates, Foreign Vessels Warned
Foreign vessels sailing through the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) and off Nigerian territorial waters have been alerted to beware of the increasing activities of pirates in the areas.
The warning was issued by a Uk based security outfit following series of kidnappings in the areas.
The security outfit had referred to the abduction of four crew members of a crude oil tanker last week.
The attack came about three days after 10 other sailores were kidnapped in the same area (GoG).
It would be recalled that on November 29, Dryad Global, pirates had boardd the vessel which was underway n Ghanaian territorial waters, 5 nautical miles from the Gulf of Guinea HRA, and 22 nautical miles west of Togo.
In the case of the 10 crew members, the piurates had attacked a cargo vessel near the Pennington FPSO off the coast of the Niger River Delta.
World Maritime News reports that Praesidium International said the attack took place on Thursday when the vessel was on her way to Cameroon from Koko.
The vessel was said to have at about 2000 hours, slowed, drifted until around 0530 hours the following morning.
According to Praesidium, the attack was attributed to the unrest on the shore of Niger Delta, adding that the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers may have been linked to the abduction.
Praesidium said the high powerful forces on the high seas may have pushed the pirate groups to embark on a retreat to Nigerian inshore waters where there is light policing.
Praesidium was quoted saying, “The multiple interventions by the Italian Navy frigate Martinengo deep offshore could possibly push the [pirate action groups] to draw their attention to softer targets located closer to the West African shoreline where international navies have less operational capabilities due to the legal framework.”
Dryad reports that no fewer that 24 kidnappings have taken place in the Gulf of Guinea this year during which 122 crew members have been victims.
Dryad was reported saying, “While the design of this vessel does not signal any overarching vulnerabilities, this incident highlights the desperation of perpetrators in the region. Counter-piracy operations and logistical strains mean larger vessels may be targeted should attacks targeting smaller vessels with vulnerable characteristics be unsuccessful”..
The warning was issued by a Uk based security outfit following series of kidnappings in the areas.
The security outfit had referred to the abduction of four crew members of a crude oil tanker last week.
The attack came about three days after 10 other sailores were kidnapped in the same area (GoG).
It would be recalled that on November 29, Dryad Global, pirates had boardd the vessel which was underway n Ghanaian territorial waters, 5 nautical miles from the Gulf of Guinea HRA, and 22 nautical miles west of Togo.
In the case of the 10 crew members, the piurates had attacked a cargo vessel near the Pennington FPSO off the coast of the Niger River Delta.
World Maritime News reports that Praesidium International said the attack took place on Thursday when the vessel was on her way to Cameroon from Koko.
The vessel was said to have at about 2000 hours, slowed, drifted until around 0530 hours the following morning.
According to Praesidium, the attack was attributed to the unrest on the shore of Niger Delta, adding that the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers may have been linked to the abduction.
Praesidium said the high powerful forces on the high seas may have pushed the pirate groups to embark on a retreat to Nigerian inshore waters where there is light policing.
Praesidium was quoted saying, “The multiple interventions by the Italian Navy frigate Martinengo deep offshore could possibly push the [pirate action groups] to draw their attention to softer targets located closer to the West African shoreline where international navies have less operational capabilities due to the legal framework.”
Dryad reports that no fewer that 24 kidnappings have taken place in the Gulf of Guinea this year during which 122 crew members have been victims.
Dryad was reported saying, “While the design of this vessel does not signal any overarching vulnerabilities, this incident highlights the desperation of perpetrators in the region. Counter-piracy operations and logistical strains mean larger vessels may be targeted should attacks targeting smaller vessels with vulnerable characteristics be unsuccessful”..
FOLLOW US
About Post Author
