Harboursandport.com: Lagos - Pirates in the Niger Delta region in Nigeria today
attacked a container vessel, Maersk Tema, 200 nautical miles South West
Bonny while the vessel was underway from Point Noir to Lagos.
According
to Dryad Global, this incident is coming barely two months after a bulk carrier;
Vinalines Mighty was attacked and boarded by three pirates 40 nautical miles
off Bonny on December 31, 2019.
Report
indicates that the container vessel, MAERSK TEMA while underway from Pointe
Noir to Lagos is currently under attack at 90 nautical miles, North West Sao
Tome. “Two unknown men are believed to have boarded the vessel and two skiffs
were seen in the vicinity of the attack. Further reporting suggests that the
crew members have reached the citadel.
“The
vessel is currently drifting 200 nautical miles, South West Bonny and 40
nautical miles, South East of the Eastern fringe of the Nigerian Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ).
“This
latest incident sits 40 nautical miles South East of a boarding incident which
occurred on the 31 of Dec 2019 where the Bulk carrier VINALINES MIGHTY was
boarded by three pirates.
“This
latest incident is the 5th incident to occur within the Nigeria – Sao Tome JDZ
since November 2019.
“It is
assessed that after a brief hiatus, pirates have returned to an area that saw
considerable success within 2019.
Pirates
operating within this area are assessed to be seeking to exploit the relative
lack of established security presence in the waters beyond the Nigerian EEZ.
“Pirates
have shown a capability and intent to attack large vessels underway, indicating
a high degree of confidence and capability. It is assessed as highly likely
that pirates operating within this area have originated from within Nigeria and
are likely to do so with support from a larger vessel.
“The conduct
of deep offshore pirate operations beyond the Nigerian Exclusive Economic Zone
was a significant feature of West African piracy throughout 2019,” Dryad Global
said.
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