The Russian and Filipino governments have reached out to determine the condition of the 17 seafarers kidnapped off two ships in Cameroonian waters last week.
According to local media reports, officials from both countries are in contact with authorities in Cameroon.
The Manila Times reports that the Philippines departments of labor and employment and foreign affairs were coordinating with both authorities and the seafarers' families, while Russian state news agency TASS said contact with Cameroon had been made.
The Russian reports said the whereabouts of the seafarers are unknown.
On 14 August, eight crew members were taken off an MC-Schiffahrt multi-purpose vessel, the 10,600-dwt MarMalaita (built 2002) and another nine off a ship said to be, but unconfirmed as, the 33,500-dwt bulker Victory C (built 2012).
According to MC-Schiffahrt, the pirates boarded the MarMalaita just before midnight, abducting eight of the 12 crew.
“Our thoughts reach out to the concerned families, and we will take all efforts to support and assist them until their seafarers safely return back home,” the company said.
“All respective authorities have been informed accordingly and we will fully cooperate with them until the case is resolved.”
Of the 17 kidnapped crew members, nine are said to be Filipino and three Russian. It is unclear the nationality of the remaining five.
West Africa's Gulf of Guinea is the world's most dangerous area for seafarers, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
While piracy is down from years past, of the 75 seafarers taken hostage on board or kidnapped for ransom in 2019, 62 were in the Gulf of Guinea and the IMB has said there is a significant amount of underreporting in the region.
