The UK’s leading maritime intelligence provider, Dryad Maritime, recently issued a special advisory warning all of its shipping clients on the increased threat of crew kidnap in the Gulf of Guinea. Since the issue of Dryad’s warning, two further attacks on vessels have taken place within a single week as two Nigerian-flagged vessels were targeted by maritime criminals on consecutive days, resulting in the kidnap of six crew members.
The UK’s leading maritime intelligence provider, Dryad Maritime, recently issued a special advisory warning all of its shipping clients on the increased threat of crew kidnap in the Gulf of Guinea. Since the issue of Dryad’s warning, two further attacks on vessels have taken place within a single week as two Nigerian-flagged vessels were targeted by maritime criminals on consecutive days, resulting in the kidnap of six crew members.
On 4th March, ‘MV Prince Joseph 1’ was attacked offshore Akwa Ibom state, closely followed by an attack on the offshore tug, ‘MV Asha Deep’ a day later off Bayelsa state; a particular hotspot for recent incidents. These most recent attacks make this the largest surge over a three month period since Dryad’s records began with eight vessels attacked and 20 crew members kidnapped. In this short period, criminal gangs have operated across a wide area, from the seas off Nigeria to those off Cameroon and Equatorial
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