Pirates Board And Rob Chemical Tanker Off Nigeria In First Attack Since 2021

A Marshall Islands-flagged chemical tanker was attacked by pirates earlier this week approximately 100 nautical miles southwest of Brass, Nigeria.

This is the first reported pirate attack in Nigerian waters since 2021.

The attacks occurred on April 21, when four individuals approached the vessel in a black-hulled skiff, moving at a high speed of 25 knots, according to Africa Risk Compliance (ARC).

The vessel, which had a freeboard of approximately 4.5 meters, had no armed guards onboard at the time.

The pirates stayed on the vessel for nearly four hours. During this period, they stole cash, personal belongings, and ship equipment, as confirmed by security firms Ambrey and ARC.

No weapons were reported during the incident, and no injuries or damage to the vessel occurred.

The crew followed emergency protocols and quickly mustered inside the citadel, where they remained safe throughout the ordeal.

After the pirates left, the ship resumed its original route and continued its journey toward Douala, Cameroon.

Although the name of the vessel has not been officially disclosed, unconfirmed reports suggest it may be the Sea Panther, a chemical tanker owned by a Greek Company.

Security advisories have now been issued by multiple agencies. Ambrey has urged vessels to review onboard security protocols, assess risk levels, and engage armed protection if possible.

Diaplous Group recommended posting extra lookouts and reporting any suspicious activity immediately. ARC emphasised that ships in the area should maintain a heightened security posture.

According to Neptune P2P Group, this was the fifth boarding incident this year, marking a 30% increase in pirate activity compared to the same timeframe in 2024.

In March, five armed pirates attacked the Bitu River, a 16,500 dwt tanker built in 2022, off the coast of Sao Tome and Principe.

During that attack, 10 crew members of Indian and Romanian nationality were abducted, and the rest were threatened with execution.

According to MDAT-GoG (Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade-Gulf of Guinea), a total of four piracy-related incidents have already been reported in April alone.

Reference: Crew mirror

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