The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) is urging ships and crew transiting the Gulf of Guinea to remain alert and not let their guard down after seafarers were kidnapped from a tanker off Benin.
11 March pirates boarded a Maltese-flagged chemical tanker that was under way about 210 nautical miles south of Cotonou and kidnapped 15 crew members.
The ship had a crew of 21, and the remaining six seafarers are said to be on board and safe though unqualified to navigate the ship.
IMB says this attack could signal a surge in serious kidnapping incidents in the Gulf of Guinea after a period of relatively low activity during the last four weeks after much focus was centred on heightened kidnapping activity in the region.
“There remains an urgent need to address this crime, which continues to have a direct impact on the safety and security of innocent seafarers,” says the IMB. “Flag states and seafarer nations are urged to voice their opinion and back the shipping industry in their continued efforts to muster an immediate and meaningful response to this criminal activity.”
IMB data shows that the Gulf of Guinea recorded the highest-ever number of crew kidnapped in 2020, with 130 taken in 22 separate incidents. This compares to the previous high of 121 crew kidnapped in 2019 from 17 incidents.
Crew have been kidnapped from all types of vessels, with the most recent attack being the furthest recorded kidnapping incident.
