UPDATE: Pirates Hijack Oil Tanker With 23 Crew Off Nigeria; Navy Rescues Vessel & Crew
Sources: The Maritime Executive/ BBC News
A Singapore-owned oil tanker has been hijacked by pirates off Nigeria’s coast. Two Nigerian Navy vessels and a helicopter were reported to be attempting to rescue the Abu Dhabi Star. Later reports state the Nigerian Navy were successful in rescuing the tanker and all crew.
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MT Abu Dhabi Star Hijacked Off Nigeria - Photo: Shipspotting.com
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23 crew members, all Indian nationals, were aboard the ship when it was captured on Tuesday night, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). A representative from the IMB stated that the crew members had locked themselves in a safe room, but there are still growing concerns regarding their safety, as well as the recent outbreak of West African pirate attacks.
Initial reports claimed that the tanker was commandeered in a Lagos port, but Nigeria’s navy insists that the incident occurred at sea and the vessel was recently about 15 miles off the country’s coast.
[One report states the crew managed to disable machinery prior to retreating into the citadel].
Attacks in this area generally lean towards the armed gangs stealing the cargo before releasing the crew, instead of demanding a pricy ransom. The IMB warns that those behind the attack may be the same criminal organization that seized two tankers off Togo last month, siphoned off the oil and later released the crew and ships.
The MT Abu Dhabi Star is operated by Pioneer Ship Management Services LLC.
[UPDATE - BBC News] Nigeria's navy says it has rescued the Singapore-owned oil tanker hijacked by pirates on Tuesday night.
Navy spokesman Kabir Aliyu told the BBC the crew was safe, the hijackers had fled and the vessel, the Abu Dhabi Star, was being escorted into the port of Lagos.
Pioneer Ship Management Services LLC spokesman Pat Adamson said a Nigerian navy vessel pulled along the MT Abu Dhabi Star on Wednesday afternoon and took control of the vessel. Adamson said the navy found no pirates on board.
No cargo was believed to have been stolen.
There has been a significant increase in the number of pirate attacks in parts of West Africa.
The BBC's Will Ross in Lagos says instead of seeking a hefty ransom the armed gangs tend to steal the cargo before releasing the crew.
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) told the AFP news agency that 23 crew members were on board when the tanker was captured and they had locked themselves in a safe room.
Noel Choong, head of the IMB's Malaysia-based piracy reporting centre, said those behind the attack may be the same criminal syndicate that seized two tankers off Togo last month, siphoned off the oil and later released the crew and ships.
Last year, Nigeria and neighbouring Benin began joint naval patrols in an effort to combat the threat of pirates.
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