Reporting indicates that Maltese flagged MT DAVIDE B (IMO9721750) has been boarded by 9 armed individuals 213nm South Cotonou, 15 crew reported kidnapped.
Hijack
DTG
11 March 2021, 1512UTC
Position
02° 48N 002° 36E
Location
213nm South Cotonou
Vessel Dimensions
155.89 x 25 m
Vessel Type
Chemical Tanker
Source Confidence Level
High
Incident Overview
Update - 0633 UTC
Reporting indicates that 15 of the 21 crew members (consisting of Ukrainian, Romanian and Philippine nationals) have been kidnapped.
Initial Report
Reporting indicates that a vessel has been boarded 213nm South of Cotonou.
The incident is understood to have involved the vessel being boarded by 9 armed individuals.
The incident is understood to be ongoing.
Dryad Analysis
Whilst unconfirmed, further reporting indicates the vessel to be the Maltese flagged MT DAVIDE B (IMO9721750)
The vessel is understood to have a crew of 21 personnel consisting of Ukrainian, Romanian, and Philippine nationals.
The vessel can be seen transiting ENE at 9.6kts, course 65° before her speed falls to 2.9kts and AIS signal is lost.
The incident appears to have occurred 9nm SE of the edge of the Nigerian EEZ and is near to where a number of vessels will look to RV with Nigerian SEV. Vessels within this area are at a unique vulnerability in that they are generally operating within waters beyond the operational footprint of regional security forces. Within 2020 there were 5 incidents inclusive of kidnapping that occurred within 30nm of the reported incident.
Vessels are reminded that the risk to vessel and crew when operating within the JWC-025 extended HRA is SEVERE. As such all vessels are recommended to ensure full compliance with BMP5 recommendations and ensure maximum hardening and mitigation are employed for operations within this area.