By Camillus Eboh and Libby George LAGOS, Aug 12 (Reuters) - A Nigerian court made the first convictions under a new anti-piracy law, giving hope to the world's shipping fleets that legal reforms will help stem rising attacks in the Gulf of Guinea. The three men fined by the court in Port Harcourt, Nigeria's oil hub, on Tuesday were among nine accused of hijacking the tanker … [Read more...]
Pirates Kidnap Seven Russian Sailors in Gulf of Guinea
LAGOS, July 20 (Reuters) - Pirates have kidnapped seven Russian sailors from the crew of a ship in the Gulf of Guinea, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria said on Monday. The seven Russians were among 13 crew members pirates abducted from the Curacao Trader 210 miles off the coast of Benin last Friday, the embassy said on its official Twitter account, but did not provide further … [Read more...]
Crew Kidnappings Surge in Gulf of Guinea, IMB Says
Violent attacks against ships and their crews have risen in 2020, with 77 seafarers taken hostage or kidnapped for ransom since January, according to the latest piracy report from the ICC International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB). The Gulf of Guinea off West Africa is increasingly dangerous for commercial shipping, accounting for just over 90% of maritime kidnappings worldwide. … [Read more...]
Gulf of Guinea Re-Emerges as Piracy Hotspot, Allianz Says
By Elisha Bala-Gbogbo (Bloomberg) --The West African coast has overtaken Southeast Asia as the worst area for reported piracy and kidnappings at sea last year, with the number of seafarers seized rising by more than 50%, according to a study. The area, known as the Gulf of Guinea, also recorded the third-highest number of ship losses -- the most yet, Allianz Global Corporate … [Read more...]
Pirates Kidnap Nine from BW Offshore FPSO Off Nigeria
OSLO, July 2 (Reuters) - Pirates attacked an oil production vessel off Nigeria in the early hours of Thursday and kidnapped nine Nigerian nationals, the ship's owner BW Offshore said. The Sendje Berge ship was undergoing maintenance when the attack happened, BW Offshore's Chief Financial Officer Staale Andreassen told Reuters. The Oslo-listed company said none of the … [Read more...]