Live Piracy & Armed Robbery Report 2019
Live Piracy & Armed Robbery Report 2019
049-19
05-04-2019
Hijacked
Chemical Tanker
Lagos Offshore
05.04.2019: 2100 UTC: Posn: 05:49.10N - 003:49.00E, Lagos Offshore, Nigeria.
Nine pirates armed with automatic weapons and a RPG boarded a tanker underway undergoing sea trials. Duty officer raised the alarm and crew took shelter. The pirates took hostage the duty officer and instructed all the crew members to come out of hiding. They damaged the navigation and all communication equipment, stole crew and ship's property, locked all the crew in one cabin and took the Master as hostage. On 09 Apr 2019, a Spanish Navy Warship tried to establish communication with the tanker. On receiving no response, the warship approached the tanker, resulting in the pirates escaping. The Master told the naval boarding team that they had been held hostage for four days. After investigations, the naval boarding team disembarked. While continuing on her voyage, the main engines had to be shut down due to overheating. The C/E noticed ingress of water into the engine room, which was later fixed. Without any communication equipment that is still working, the tanker was adrift for 12 days before being able to hail a fishing boat for assistance. The Master then established contact with the Owners who then arranged for the tanker to be towed to Ghana. The tanker arrived at Ghana anchorage on 22 April 2019.
Nine pirates armed with automatic weapons and a RPG boarded a tanker underway undergoing sea trials. Duty officer raised the alarm and crew took shelter. The pirates took hostage the duty officer and instructed all the crew members to come out of hiding. They damaged the navigation and all communication equipment, stole crew and ship's property, locked all the crew in one cabin and took the Master as hostage. On 09 Apr 2019, a Spanish Navy Warship tried to establish communication with the tanker. On receiving no response, the warship approached the tanker, resulting in the pirates escaping. The Master told the naval boarding team that they had been held hostage for four days. After investigations, the naval boarding team disembarked. While continuing on her voyage, the main engines had to be shut down due to overheating. The C/E noticed ingress of water into the engine room, which was later fixed. Without any communication equipment that is still working, the tanker was adrift for 12 days before being able to hail a fishing boat for assistance. The Master then established contact with the Owners who then arranged for the tanker to be towed to Ghana. The tanker arrived at Ghana anchorage on 22 April 2019.