Armed pirates have reportedly tried to board a crude tanker off the coast of Nigeria in what is the second unsuccessful attack in the past week.
The incident involving the unnamed tanker took place in position 03’09N 005’20E on Thursday morning local time.
Details of the latest incident off Nigeria come in the latest report from UK-based independent security brokerage ASKET.
The vessel was reportedly approached by small craft at speed which laid alongside the starboard quarter in an attempt to board.
Seven armed people were reported to be in the small craft. The tanker was in ballast and was drifting at the time of the initial approach.
ASKET said the vessel immediately started its engines and took evasive manoeuvres causing the attempted boarding to be broken off.
A patrol vessel from the Nigerian navy is said to have responded, but the small craft was reported as departing in a south-easterly direction.
ASKET said the tanker is currently under the protection of security vessels from an adjacent oil field.
Last Friday a chemical tanker was approached by a black speed boat in position 03’54N 005’41E, around 41nm southwest of Brass, Nigeria, according to the IMB Piracy reporting Centre.
The master of the tanker is reported to have raised the alarm, sent distress messages, and taken anti-piracy preventive measures and crew members locked all entrance doors.
As the boat closed, nine pirates armed with AK47s opened fire at the tanker and attempted to board the tanker several times using ladders and grappling hook attached with a rope, IMB said.
The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre said it received information from the owners and immediately informed the Nigerian navy for assistance.
“Due to the hardening measures taken by the tanker, the pirates aborted the attempted boarding and moved away. No injuries to crew members,” the IMB said.
