INCIDENT ALERT – BOARDING AND KIDNAP |
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Date: 31/05/2021 1930 UTC |
Position: 04°33’N – 002°23’E |
Location: 104nm south of Cotonou, Benin |
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Incident details: The MDAT-GOG has reported that a vessel was boarded in position 04°33’N – 002°23’E (approximately 104NM south of Cotonou, Benin). The pirates reportedly left the vessel at 2045 UTC, the vessel is safe.
Intelligence Comments: Information received by Neptune P2P indicates that the vessel attacked is a Ghanaian fishing vessel working in Benin waters, it was attacked by 2 pirate skiffs. The armed pirates boarded and kidnapped 5 crew members and stole valuables. The Captain, Chief Deck Officer, Chief Engineer, Boatswains Mate and the Refrigeration Engineer were taken but another 31 crew are safe. The pirates remained onboard for about 1 hour. The vessel is now sailing back towards Ghana and a Ghana Navy vessel was dispatched to escort it into Tema port. This incident follows an earlier Alert from the MDAT-GOG relating to an increased piracy threat in the Gulf of Guinea. The Alert advised ship operators to increase their vigilance, retain enhanced local surveillance and apply BMP WA procedures in an area defined by the following points ( see map):
05°00’N – 002°30’E
05°00’N – 005°00’E
02°30’N – 005°00’E
02°30’N – 002°30’E
