A Danish oil tanker hijacked in the Gulf of Guinea has been found off the coast of Sao Tome and Principe. But half of the crew has been kidnapped.
When the French navy discovered the ship on Thursday, “the pirates had abandoned the vessel and brought a portion of the crew members with them.” “The rescued crew members are all in good health and are safe and secure,”.
The Reformer went missing after that. But later found by the French navy off the coast of Sao Tome and Principe.
“During this trying time, our thoughts are with the crew members who are still missing and their families.” “Monjasa will continue to collaborate with local authorities to ensure our seafarers’ safe return to their families,” the business stated.
Moreover, The rescued crew members are all in good health and are receiving proper attention in a secure environment. There was no damage reported to the ship or its cargo, Monjasa said.
The incident to a maritime cooperation centre run by the British and French navies in order to keep the Gulf of Guinea secure.
According to Monjasa, the operator is collaborating with all pertinent maritime authorities in the region. Including several navies.
Gulf of Guinea a global piracy hotspot
According to the United Nations Security Council, the Gulf of Guinea has become a global piracy hotspot in recent years. Even though cases have decreased since 2021 as national authorities stepped up security efforts assisted by foreign naval ships.
Denmark, which has significant commercial shipping interests, sent a frigate to the Gulf of Mexico in 2021 to protect shipping. But the frigate was withdrawn last year following the start of the Ukraine war.
The Gulf of Guinea, which stretches 5,700 kilometers (3,500 miles) from Senegal to Angola, has been a troubled area for shipping companies. It has calmed down in recent years.
According to a report by The Maritime Information Cooperation and Awareness Center (MICA), three ships were attacked in the area in 2022 compared to 26 in 2019.
