A 2016-built chemical tanker have been boarded by pirates off Cotonou, Benin on Thursday and the 15 crew members onboard the ship have been kidnapped. According to maritime safety consultancy Dryad Global, the 2016-built 19,800 dwt tanker Davide B, operated by Dutch company De Poli Shipmanagement, has been boarded by nine armed men.The vessel has a crew of 21 personnel consisting of Ukrainian, Romanian, and Philippine nationals. De Poli confirmed that 15 members have been taken from the ship and the remaining six are safe and remain onboard. The ship is currently attended by security personnel that have since arrived on scene.
De Poli Shipmanagement Updated statement:
Barendrecht, The Netherlands, March 12, 2021 – De Poli Shipmanagement report that following an attack by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa fifteen crewmembers have been taken from its chemical tanker Davide B. Six other seafarers of the vessel are safe and unhurt and remain on board of the ship which is currently attended by security personnel that have arrived on scene. Davide B came under attack whilst sailing some 210 nautical miles south of Cotonou, Benin.
De Poli Shipmanagement are greatly concerned about the attack on its vessel and seafarers. The company’s main priority now is to establish contact with the missing crew in order to secure their earliest and safe release. De Poli Shipmanagement’s Emergency Response Team are liaising with all relevant authorities who have been notified immediately after the incident which occurred at appx. 15.00 UTC on Thursday. The company are in close contact with the families of the seafarers to support them in this extremely difficult time.
Davide B is a 2016 built chemical tanker which was on a commercial voyage from Riga, Latvia to Lagos, Nigeria. The vessel is flying the Maltese flag.
For the time being De Poli Shipmanagement will not be providing any further information in order not to jeopardize the safety of those involved.
De Poli Shipmanagement Updated statement:
Barendrecht, The Netherlands, March 12, 2021 – De Poli Shipmanagement report that following an attack by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa fifteen crewmembers have been taken from its chemical tanker Davide B. Six other seafarers of the vessel are safe and unhurt and remain on board of the ship which is currently attended by security personnel that have arrived on scene. Davide B came under attack whilst sailing some 210 nautical miles south of Cotonou, Benin.
De Poli Shipmanagement are greatly concerned about the attack on its vessel and seafarers. The company’s main priority now is to establish contact with the missing crew in order to secure their earliest and safe release. De Poli Shipmanagement’s Emergency Response Team are liaising with all relevant authorities who have been notified immediately after the incident which occurred at appx. 15.00 UTC on Thursday. The company are in close contact with the families of the seafarers to support them in this extremely difficult time.
Davide B is a 2016 built chemical tanker which was on a commercial voyage from Riga, Latvia to Lagos, Nigeria. The vessel is flying the Maltese flag.
For the time being De Poli Shipmanagement will not be providing any further information in order not to jeopardize the safety of those involved.