THE hijacked Geden Lines Maltese-flagged 37,879-dwt chemical tanker Cotton, seized off Gabon in West Africa, was released together with its 24-man crew last week, reports London's Tanker Operator.
West African pirates release tanker Cotton, all 24 Indian crew safe
THE hijacked Geden Lines Maltese-flagged 37,879-dwt chemical tanker Cotton, seized off Gabon in West Africa, was released together with its 24-man crew last week, reports London's Tanker Operator.
The ship was reportedly heading for a safe port according to Geden Lines, which said the entire Indian crew was unharmed.
The ship was carrying a cargo of fuel oil at the time of the hijacking, reported Reuters.
"The attack occurred around 200 nautical miles further south than the previous most southerly attack, which was around 160 miles southwest of Nigeria's Bonny Island," said maritime security contractors AKE.
"It therefore marks a significant expansion of the geographical range of Gulf of Guinea piracy. It also demonstrates the regional nature of the illegal fuel trade, the supply of which tankers such as the Cotton are generally hijacked for," the security company added.
