Zeaborn has revealed a watch officer was threatened and robbed as armed men planted cocaine on one of its boxships underway off South America.
The German shipmanager told TradeWinds that the 2,546-teu Sealand Los Angeles (built 2008) had left Guayaquil, Ecuador, on 7 January when the two gunmen approached a crewman on the forecastle while he was on watch during an outbound river passage.
"After they took away a portable VHF and a wristwatch the crew member managed to return to the accommodation and alerted the ship's command," the company added.
The captain followed the company's procedure and notified the local authorities and the Zeaborn Ship Management head office in Hamburg, Germany.
All parties agreed the ship should continue on to its next port of call, Puerto Bolivar, Ecuador, where it was boarded by the local police.
"During a thorough inspection one of the containers stowed on bay 01 was found with a tampered seal," Zeaborn added.
Four cases discovered
"Consequently, the container was discharged for a more detailed inspection. After opening of the container four suspicious bags were found inside on top of the regular cargo."
The Ecuadorian army said these contained 88 packets of cocaine.
The search was launched with the prosecutor's office, the anti-narcotics police and the shipping agency representing the Sinoceanic-owned vessel.
"Due to the professional and prudent action of the captain and his crew, as well as their close cooperation with the local authorities, the Sealand Los Angeles left Puerto Bolivar in time and continued her voyage to the USA," Zeaborn said.
The incident marks a departure from the usual practice of covert operations to attach narcotics to hulls when vessels are docked.
Ecuador is not a major producer of drugs, but it is considered a territory for the transit of cocaine from Colombia.
Last year, up to the end of November, Ecuadorian authorities had reported the seizure of 63 tonnes of drugs.
The last AIS update on Sunday showed the vessel underway off Chile along the west coast of South America, heading for Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala.
