Reports from relevant authorities say the 21 crewmembers that were on board the ship at the time it was seized are unharmed, although a portion of the vessels fuel oil cargo has been stolen.
The Hai Soon 6, which is operated by Hai Soon Ship Management of Singapore, was said to be operating in the West African offshore bunker trades at the time of its seizure by the pirates.
Attacks on shipping in the Gulf of Guinea have focused on products tankers, with the main aim being the theft of the petroleum products being carried by the ship. Ordinarily the cargo is transshipped into a phantom tanker, after which the hijacked ship and its crew are released.
A detailed overview of the piracy situation in the Gulf of Guinea can be found in this week’s issue of TradeWinds.
