A Maersk Line containership has reportedly been attacked by armed pirates off the coast of Nigeria on Sunday.
The 4,496-teu Maersk Cotonou (built 2011) was said to have been attacked by eight armed men in a speed boat, according to security broker Asket.
The Singapore-flagged vessel is said to have applied unspecified counter piracy measures which were successful.
The Maersk Cotonou, which operates on Maersk Line’s service between China and West Africa, is said to have continued on to its destination.
Asket said the attempted attack was carried out by the same group pirates that had tried to attack an inbound convoy earlier on Sunday.
That incident saw a convoy of supply vessels approached by a skiff with several people on board, according to Asket.
A security vessel escorting the convoy is said to have intercepted the skiff and came under fire. The security vessel returned fire and the skiff aborted the approach.
Earlier this month the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Nigeria accounted for 26% of all seafarers taken hostage in the first nine months of 2016.
The IMB said more vessels of all types are being targeted by armed groups along Nigeria's rivers, anchorages and ports, and up to 118 nautical miles from the coast.
“Though many attacks are believed to go unrecorded, IMB received reports of 31 incidents in the first nine months of 2016, up from 12 in the same period last year,” it said.
“In other Nigerian attacks so far this year, 13 people have been taken hostage onboard, and 29 kidnapped for ransom. In one boarding in July, five crew were captured and the chief officer shot in the head.”
