Pirates Kidnap Master and Chief Engineer Offshore Nigeria

A brazen pirate attack offshore Nigeria has resulted in the kidnapping of the vessel’s Master and Chief Engineer, one injury, and one missing person, says the International Maritime Bureau.

According the IMB report, a group of eight pirates armed with guns stormed a refrigerated cargo ship anchored approximately 3 nm from Fairway Buoy Port Harcourt, Nigeria.  The pirates reportedly fired shots toward the ship’s bridge and galley before ransacking the vessel, stealing cash and property, and eventually taking hostage the vessel Master and Chief Engineer as they left. The report adds that the remaining crew informed local authorities and sailed, without the Master and C/E, to a safe distance.  One crewmember was injured in the attack and another remains unaccounted for.

An IMB official told AFP that the vessel was a Dutch-owned, Curacao-flagged refrigerated cargo ship and had a crew of 14, made up of Russians, Ukrainians and Filipinos.

On February 13, the Master and Chief Engineer of a bulk carrier were shot and killed in a similar attack offshore Nigeria.

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