A tug and its 10-man crew have been released in Equatorial Guinea after suffering a mistaken arrest for the hijacking of a Boskalis heavylift ship.
The 300-gt Charis (built 2006), operated by C&I Leasing of Lagos, Nigeria, was suspected of involvement in the violent seizing of the 76,000-dwt Blue Marlin (built 2011) earlier this month, The Nation reported.
The tug was held on 7 May but freed last week following the intervention of Nigeria’s ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, Toko Ali Gongulong, and defence attache Olaseyi Oladipo.
The vessel was attacked on the same day as the Blue Marlin.
A source told the newspaper: “When the pirates attacked, the captain of the Charis immediately sent a distress call. In response to the call, a Spanish Navy team arrived [in] the vicinity and boarded the Blue Marlin.
“However the pirates escaped. The Charis was also boarded and escorted to Malabo by Equatorial Guinea Navy.
“On arrival at Malabo, while the Blue Marlin was taken for repairs and the crew well administered. The Charis was under tight security and its crew detained at the police cell at Malabo.
“The crew had been mistaken for the pirates that attacked the Blue Marlin."
All 20 of the Blue Marlin crew were able to secure themselves in the citadel and the ship was later liberated by Equatorial Guinean and Spanish naval forces.
