For the second time in about six weeks, and the third time on Nigerian waters, daredevil sea robbers last
week attacked aTurkish cargo ship MV Duden on the approach to Port Harcourt harbours.
Although details of the attack was kept secret, our correspondent scooped that the ill fated ship was laden with about 10,000MT of Rice.
Sources at Port Harcourt port told our correspondent that the ship regularly calls at Lagos port before her voyage to the eastern port.
The first attack reportedly took place on the high seas while sailing from Lagos to Rivers Ports, and the two other attacks occurred within the Rivers Ports area while it was waiting at fairway buoy.
No life was reportedly lost in all the attacks. Attacks on ships between fairway buoy and the Rivers ports and between Bonny and Port Harcourt are said to be common occurrences, as these areas are regarded as danger zones.
According to sources, in one of the attacks, the pirates where denied access as the captain ordered that the gangway be lifted up thereby preventing them from climbing into the ship. In the previous attack on the ship, tow crew members reportedly suffered bullet wounds when their vessel was attacked early in August, 2009.
Gency reports confirmed that “The Duden, which was transporting a cargo of rice, was attacked off Port Harcourt, The cook and a steward suffered minor wounds to their arms.
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