Two tankers transiting West Africa have successfully averted attacks by pirates on their crew, even though one of the tankers was boarded. Lee Hong Liang writes in Seatrade Maritime News:
“According to reports cited by maritime security intelligence firm Dryad Global, pirates boarded a Singapore-flagged chemical tanker Torm Alexandra in south Cotonou, Benin around 0643 UTC.”
Further, Maritime Executive carried images taken by a helicopter deployed by the Italian frigate, INS Martinengo, which show at least four men in a skiff containing fuel barrels and powered by twin outboard engines.
An incident alert was sent by MDAT-GoG on Saturday, which read:
1. CATEGORY: BOARDING
2. TIME: 07 Nov 2020 at 0640UTC.
3. DESCRIPTION: Unknown number of perpetrators have boarded a MV. All crew are in the citadel. Local authorities are aware of the situation.
4. POSITION: 03°39’48N 002°29’49E (172 Nm south of Cotonou)
This was later updated to show the vessel and crew as safe.
Maritime Security News 