Five crew are reported to have been kidnapped from an offshore support vessel off Nigeria following an attack by armed pirates.
The incident took place over the weekend but has only just been reported by the International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre.
Pirates armed with machine guns in two speed boats are said to have approached the unnamed vessel around 32 nm southeast of Brass.
The OSV’s captain is reported to have immediately notified the naval escort security boat which maneuvered to engage the attackers.
One speed boat is said to have closed in from the port side of the vessel and crossed the bow, while the other speed boat exchanged fire with the security boat, the IMB said.
The pirates were said to have boarded the vessel with the aid of an elongated ladder, while the OSV’s crew proceeded to the engine room and all power was shut down.
The pirates are said to have then proceeded to the engine room and kidnapping five crewmembers before escaping.
Reports claim that they also broke into the accommodation space, vandalized the cabins and stole crew belongings and vessel property.
One Nigerian Navy armed guard was reported killed in the exchange of fire between the naval security boat and the pirates.
The OSV’s remaining crew are said to have sailed the vessel under escort to a safe anchorage. Investigations are said to be ongoing.
UK-based security consultancy Gray Page has said that at least five attacks on shipping have taken place in the Gulf of Guinea recently.
It advises crews to exercise "extreme caution" throughout the area and avoid slow steaming and watch for the approach of small vessels, especially at night.
