Anglo Eastern says it has “lost contact” with a products tanker last seen at the Cotonou Anchorage in Benin, West Africa.
The ship manager said the 45,989-dwt Marine Express (built 2009), which was in part laden condition with some 13,500t of gasoline, was last contacted at 03:30 UTC on 1 February.
“All the appropriate authorities have been alerted and are responding,” the ship manager said in a statement issued on Friday.
“Our first priority is the safety of the 22 crew members on-board, whose families have been contacted and informed of the situation.”
This is the second such vessel to disappear of the same port in less than a month in similar circumstances.
In mid-January UK-based shipowner Union Maritime said it lost contact with one of its product tankers off the coast of West Africa.
The 11,999-dwt Barrett (built 2005), which was at anchor off Benin, West Africa was later confirmed to have been taken by pirates.
However, the ship and its 22 crew were released just over a week later. Union Maritime did not disclose if a ransom was paid, but said the rescue effort involved authorities in Benin, Togo, Nigeria and India.
