Crew kidnapped from cargo ship off Cameroon

Crew kidnapped from cargo ship off Cameroon
4th Apr 2019 https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/maritime-security/crew-kidnapped-f...

Four crewmembers have been kidnapped from a container ship off the coast of Cameroon in the latest piracy incident in the region.

The vessel Contship Oak was attacked by armed pirates on 30 March whilst anchored off Douala, Cameroon. According to the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre, the pirates escaped with four crewmembers. The remaining crew sailed the ship to Douala port, where it docked the following day.

The Liberian flagged vessel has a capacity of 1 118 containers and is managed by Contship Greece.

The attack took place just days after the United States-led Exercise Obangame Express in the region, which focussed on maritime security.

Another serious incident took place in the region on 28 February when two speed boats with 16-armed person chased and fired upon an offshore supply vessel underway off Bonny Island, Nigeria. The alarm was raised, the vessel increased speed and commenced evasive manoeuvres and non-essential crew mustered in the citadel. An escorting security vessel intervened to repel the attack. The vssel sustain bullet damage on the bridge but all crew were reported safe.