A BW LPG VLGC has emerged as the ship which narrowly avoided being hijacked off Congo earlier this week, while a bunker tanker has been seized and crew also taken from an RK8 Shipmanagement OSV, TradeWinds has learned.
“I can confirm that the VLGC BW Frigg was attacked by pirates as she was taking on bunkers off Pointe-Noire in Republic of the Congo on 29 October 2018,” a BW spokesperson told TradeWinds.
“Shots were fired and pirates attempted to board her from the bunker barge.”
BW praised the actions of the captain and the crew of the vessel, who were said to have “performed admirably well under duress” and followed all company guidelines and safety procedures.
Both BW Wilhelmsen and BW LPG are actively communicating with the vessel to provide full support during this stressful time, the spokesperson added.
At the time of the incident the Marshall Island-flagged 84,000-cbm BW Frigg (built 2016) was taking on bunkers from the 9,596-dwt Anuket Amber (built 2008).
The small tanker, which is managed commercially and technically by Alliance Chartering and Norbulk Shipping respectively, is reported to have been hijacked.
“We remain concerned about the fate of the crew of the bunker vessel we had engaged, and we hope for the safe and swift return of missing crew,” the BW spokesperson said.
“BW condemns any acts of piracy, for the impact it has on our crew’s family and loved ones. BW has measures in place to deter attacks and safeguard the well-being of all on board.”
More crew taken
Maritime Bulletin reported that relatives said the bunker tanker crew consists of 12 Latvian, Filipino, Russian and Ukrainian seafarers.
On the same day, gunmen attacked RK8's 2,300-dwt AHTS Ark Tze (built 2009) and kidnapped four crew nearby.
They were transferred to Anuket Amber.
An RK8 spokesperson in Singapore told TradeWinds: “We can confirm that an anchor handling tug supply vessel under our technical and commercial management, the Ark Tze, was attacked by armed men some 60 nautical miles off the Congolese coast.
"The incident occurred at around 04:30 local time on Monday 29 October."
10-hour ordeal for crew
He added: "The attackers left the vessel approximately 10 hours later and took four crew members with them. We believe the four hostages may have been transferred to another vessel which was close by and has apparently been attacked by the same group.
"RK8 has alerted all the appropriate local authorities and we are working with them, our partners, crew managers, owners and international specialists to secure the safe release of the four crew members which is our top priority.
"In order to not jeopardise the safety of those involved we will not be releasing any further details at this stage, but will provide updates if or when it is appropriate to do so. We kindly request your patience in allowing us to best respond to the ongoing incident.”
Incidents of piracy have seen an uptick in recent weeks, according to UK-based security consultancy Gray Page.
Last week three intruders were spotted onboard an unnamed oil tanker while it was anchored in Congo's Pointe-Noire Anchorage
In late September two suspected robbers, reportedly armed with knives, were seen on the deck of a merchant vessel around midnight in the same area.
"Although intruders have been armed they have seldom confronted crew members and have generally fled once an alarm has been raised," said Gray Page.
"Ships in the Pointe-Noire Anchorage should be vigilant about maintaining watches especially during the hours of darkness."
In 2016 the International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre recorded six incidents in the Congo area, but only one in 2017.
