An AP Moller-Maersk containership crew has frustrated the latest pirate attack off Nigeria — twice.
The 4,496-teu Maersk Cardiff (built 2013) was approached by a small craft on Wednesday evening, 150 nautical miles (278 km) south-west of Bonny, according to security consultancy Dryad Global.
"The crew have mustered in the citadel. The [approaching] vessel left and the crew and vessel are safe," it said.
Another consultancy, Ambrey, said the ship had been underway eastbound at between 14 and 16 knots from Tema in Ghana with an estimated 9.5-metre freeboard. It then slowed to a drift.
Consultancy Falcon Mega Solutions said the Maersk Cardiff was actually approached twice, once at 10pm GMT and then at midnight.
"She was probably boarded, or there was a second attack," the company added.
As of 0230 GMT, the ship was drifting near the attack site with a Nigerian security boat at its side, Falcon said.
Attempted boarding
Maersk said that at 2030 GMT, criminals attempted boarding while the vessel was heading to Cameroon.
"We were able to get a guard vessel to the scene who confirmed that no criminals were in the vicinity of Maersk Cardiff," the company added.
All crew are confirmed safe and accounted for and the vessel is secured and ready to proceed with its voyage, Maersk said.
"In AP Moller-Maersk we have a clear responsibility for the safety and well-being of our crew which remains our key priority," said chief technical officer Palle Laursen.
"We are fortunate that our crew on Maersk Cardiff are safe, and we will continue to seek solutions to an unacceptable situation where the security risk in Gulf of Guinea is increased."
LNG carrier approached
Ambrey also said the 137,231-cbm LNG Sokoto (built 2002) reported a suspicious approach by a small craft to within 100 metres on Thursday, 74 nautical miles south-west of Egina.
The LNG carrier, owned by Bonny Gas Transport, was inbound to Bonny at 14.9 knots, having last called at the Botas LNG Terminal in Turkey.
"At the time of the approach, the contracted security escort vessel had yet to engage with LNG Sokoto and was over 3 nautical miles away," Ambrey said.
The vessel had an estimated 16.6m freeboard.
This was the third approach on an LNG carrier while unescorted inbound to or from the Bonny terminal in a month.
Dangerous area
Dryad said that last year a cluster of incidents was reported in a triangular area south of the Agbami and Egina terminals.
Since 1 December, there have been 17 attacks or attempted attacks in the Gulf of Guinea high-risk area (HRA), 10 of which were in this triangle.
These included five boardings, two approaches, two incidents with shots fired and one attack.
"There have been a surge of incidents in the past five weeks," the company added.
The risk in the Gulf of Guinea HRA was raised to critical in November.
"Vessels are advised to operate within this area at a heightened posture maintaining the highest levels of vigilance whilst implementing full hardening/mitigation in accordance with best management practice (BMP) West Africa where possible," Dryad added.
The International Maritime Bureau is advising ships to remain at least 200 to 250 nautical miles offshore where possible.
