Unsuccessful pirate attack reported on tanker in Gulf of Guinea

Five armed pirates attacked and boarded a Liberia-flagged tanker located approximately 144 nautical miles west-south-west of Pointe Noire, Congo late last month, the joint UK-French Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade – Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) security cooperation agency has confirmed.

The attack occurred on March 25, as initially reported by the ship’s crew.

The crew sought refuge in the citadel. However, the ship’s position was unknown for three days as it was not transmitting on AIS.

The vessel was next reported on Tuesday, March 28. On the evening (local time) of Thursday, March 30, it sent a distress signal from its estimated location approximately 113 nautical miles south of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

On Thursday, MDAT-GOG also confirmed that the incident had concluded, and the vessel is safe. No other details have been provided.