Duty OOW onboard an anchored tanker noticed three armed persons on deck and immediately raised the alarm. SSAS activated and all crew retreated to the citadel. The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre received the incident information from the CSO and immediately informed the Benin Authorities. Three patrol boats were dispatched to the location. They searched the waters around the tanker. A navy team boarded the tanker. On confirmation from the team that the tanker was clear of pirates, the Master and crew emerged from the citadel. On investigating, the ship’s office port hole was damaged due to a gunshot and other ship’s property found damaged.
19.02.2018: 0824 UTC: Posn: 04:02.66N – 006:34.33E, Around 25nm SE of Brass, Nigeria.
Six pirates armed with AK-47 rifles in a black hull speed boat approached and attempted to board a crude oil tanker underway. Master raised the alarm, activated SSAS, transmitted distress message, increased speed, took evasive manoeuvres and crew secured all access doors. The pirates made seven attempts to hook an aluminum ladder on the tanker’s railing but were unsuccessful due to the evasive manoeuvres taken by the Master. They then, fired upon at the tanker and moved away. A Nigerian Navy boat was in contact with the tanker and arrived at the location. The tanker and crew are safe.
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