On Saturday, a Maltese-flagged oil tanker MT NEW RANGER has been attacked and boarded by some pirates approximately 220nm South of Lagos port in the Gulf of Guinea, according to Dryad Global.
The website, specialized in maritime safety, stated that this vessel was transporting liquid chemicals.
It added that the perpetrators have reportedly left the vessel, and the crew are reported safe.
The incident occurred in the vicinity of attack on the MINERVA IVOPRI on the 4th December. This is the 67th incident in the JWC HRA in 2020 and the 4th incident this week. There have been a surge of incidents in the past 5 weeks.
The NEW RANGER has previously been involved in incidents in the Gulf of Guinea in June and September 2011 and January 2015.
Vessels are advised to operate within this area at a heightened posture maintaining the highest levels of vigilance whilst implementing full hardening / mitigation in accordance with BMP West Africa where possible. In addition the IMB advises that vessels remain at least 200nm-250nm offshore where possible.
The Gulf of Guinea is currently considered one of the most risky areas in the global oceans, due to the threat of pirates. The total number of kidnapped ships in this area this year reached 1311 people, who were captured in 25 different incidents.
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