PIRATES boarded a 2006-built Handysize product tanker 'Histria Ivory' 20 miles off Lome, Togo, taking three Romanian seafarers hostage
PIRATES boarded a 2006-built Handysize product tanker 'Histria Ivory' 20 miles off Lome, Togo, taking three Romanian seafarers hostage. The remainder of the crew hid in the ship's citadel, according to Romania's Free Trade Union of Navigators (SLN) and the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE). The pirates fled the scene after the kidnapping on March 3 and local authorities escorted 'Histria Ivory' to a safe anchorage, reported Tanker Operator. The vessel was reportedly damaged during the attack but none of the crew was injured, according to the MAE.
'The Free Trade Union of Navigators warns that in the Gulf of Guinea, the rate of pirate incidents is increasing in intensity, which affects seafarers and global shipping,' the SLN said in a statement.
'In high-risk areas, it is necessary to increase vigilance on the bridge and tune radar for small distances to prevent any attempted attack to succeed. Also, the piracy procedures must be well received by each crew member and followed precisely in case of piracy incidents.'
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