Nigerian pirates have targeted a Valles Steamship tanker hundreds of kilometres offshore, in another reminder of the serious threat to shipping in the Gulf of Guinea.
Security consultancy Ambrey said the 48,600-dwt Seafrontier (built 2011) reported a suspicious approach by a skiff on Tuesday.
The MR tanker was 164 nautical miles (304 km) south-west of the Agbami floating production, storage and offloading unit, in international waters.
A boat with six people on board closed with the vessel, but the crew mustered in the citadel.
The Seafrontier increased speed to 13.9 knots and maintained a heightened speed out of the area, Ambrey said.
The tanker, en route to Antwerp, had earlier been escorted out of the Bonny Nigeria LNG terminal by the Nigerian naval patrol vessel Defender VI.
Escort continued
This took the MR out to 130 nautical miles, then another ship escorted it a further 120 nautical miles towards the south-western border of the Nigerian Exclusive Economic Zone.
Valles has been contacted for further information.
The incident follows the murder of a crew member and the seizing of 15 others on Borealis Maritime's 2,824-teu boxship Mozart (built 2007) on Sunday off Sao Tome and Principe.
Three seafarers, two of whom were injured, were left on board following the attack, which saw four gunmen gain access to the citadel in as-yet unexplained circumstances.
Christian Ayerst, chief executive of psychological support company Mental Health Support Solutions, told TradeWinds the crew had undergone "an awful experience".
Trauma has to be faced
He said it can take up to six months for psychological trauma to come to the surface in individuals, and it needs to be dealt with immediately.
Ayerst said professional psychologists will be reviewing the crew, administering psychological first-aid and reporting to the operator if the seafarers and ship are ready to sail again.
"The impacts of this will be huge and wide-reaching," he said.
This applies within the company, and outside — for example, the effect on seafarers sailing similar routes.
"There is a need for proactive psychology as well. Whilst post-event [therapy] will help, we urge everyone to be equipped with the knowledge and understanding to handle issues before they arise," he added.
