As TradeWinds reported yesterday the owner’s 37,800-dwt Cotton (built 2007) was less than 20 nautical miles north of Port Gentil when it was taken.
In a statement Geden explains pirates boarded the vessel just before 5:00 am local time on Sunday close to the port where it was set to load.
“It is unusual for attacks to occur in this region and, in fact, there have been no reported attacks within the last five years,” Geden said.
“The company’s priority is the safety of its seafarers and all possible steps to secure their safe return are being taken.”
It says the strike came close to the port, where Geden says the ship was “due to load cargo”.
A spokesperson for the company explains It had loaded a part cargo of fuel oil and was waiting to load a second parcel when it was attacked.
As we reported yesterday experts fear the hit could mark a game changer in West African piracy give the hijacking came 200 nautical miles from any other recorded incident in recent history.
