31 March: A pirate attack on a Danish oil tanker in the Gulf of Guinea resulted in the kidnapping of some of its crew members, according to the ship’s owner Monjasa. The vessel, named Monjasa Reformer, had 16 crew on board when it was boarded by pirates on March 25. It was later found by the French navy near Sao Tome and Principe.
Monjasa said in a statement that the pirates had left the vessel and taken some of the crew members with them. The number and nationalities of the kidnapped crew members were not disclosed. “Our thoughts are with the crew members still missing and their families during this stressful period,” Monjasa said.
The shipowner said that the rescued crew members were all in good health and receiving proper attention. It also said that there was no damage to the vessel or its cargo. The Monjasa Reformer was “sitting idle” at the time of the incident, about 260 kilometers west of Port Pointe-Noire in the Republic of Congo.
Monjasa said that the crew had followed the onboard anti-piracy emergency protocol and sought refuge in the tanker’s secure room or “citadel” when the pirates boarded. The company said that it was working closely with the local authorities to secure the safe return of the kidnapped crew members.
The Gulf of Guinea is a hotspot for piracy and armed robbery at sea, with more than 130 incidents reported in 2020, according to the International Maritime Bureau. The pirates often target vessels for their cargo or demand ransom for hostages.