Eight tanker crew kidnapped by pirates off Cameroon

Photo: Eastern Mediterranean Maritime

A total of eight crewmembers of a chemical/oil tanker were abducted by a group of armed men off the Port of Limboh in Cameroon on Tuesday, December 31.

The attack on the Greek-flagged Happy Lady occurred in the early morning hours (local time) of Tuesday while the vessel was anchored two nautical miles from the port, Greece’s Shipping Ministry said in a statement.

The perpetrators took five Greeks, two Filipinos, and a Ukrainian off the tanker, which is owned by Eastern Mediterranean Maritime of Greece. A ninth individual, who has been identified as a Greek sailor, sustained injuries in the raid.

Happy Lady‘s 19 remaining crewmembers were unharmed.

Greek Shipping Minister Yannis Plakiotakis said that his ministry has been coordinating with other agencies to ensure the safe release of the kidnapped sailors.


Baird Maritime

The best maritime site on the web. The sea's our scene!