Investigation under way in Nigeria after piracy attack on reefer vessel

The Solarte is now in the Port of Harcourt, Nigeria.

The Nigerian navy and authorities have launched an investigation into a pirate attack on a Comoros-flagged reefer which took place on Thursday afternoon, about 100 nautical miles off Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

According to news reports, the Solarte was en route from Cotonou, Benin to Port Harcourt, Nigeria, when a group of armed men attacked the ship, kidnapping two Lithuanian and two Ukrainian seamen.

Online shipping news publication, Maritime News, reported that the pirates had stolen money and damaged the vessel’s communication equipment. Ransom demands have not yet been received although the rest of the ship’s crew are apparently unharmed.