Filipino Sailor Killed By Nigerian Pirates in Another Attack on a Tanker [UPDATE]

04.02.2013: 0024 UTC: 06:19.16N – 003:24.57E, Lagos Anchorage, Nigeria.

A Filipino crewmember aboard the chemical tanker, Pyxis Delta, was shot and killed Monday during an attack by pirates off the coast of Lagos, Nigeria, officials confirmed Wednesday.

In a statement released on 7 February, the owner of the vessel, Pyxis Maritime Corp. states, “the vessel was the subject of an unsuccessful pirate attack at Lagos anchorage on the 4th of February.”

“The tanker was boarded by armed pirates and gun fire was exchanged at approximately 00.40 hrs local time. The security team (armed guards) on board immediately activated anti-piracy measures of resistance and the pirates escaped.”

A report by the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre issued Wednesday said that the gunmen attacked and fired upon the the anchored Pyxis Delta while it was carrying out STS operations in the Lagos Anchorage, Monday, but did not release further details.

Pyxis Maritime notes the other crewmembers are safe.  

The 2006-built Pyxis Delta is managed by International Tanker Management in Dubai, which is part of V.Ships.

The incident is the third attack by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea this week. On Sunday, a French tanker was hijacked by pirates off the Ivory Coast and was reported released today after the pirates took the vessel to Nigerian waters and stole some of the ship’s cargo. On Tuesday, 3 people were killed by gunmen during an attack on a barge in the Niger Delta.

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