According to a World Maritime News article, four crew members have reportedly been kidnapped from a general cargo ship 14nm off Douala, Cameroon.
What happened?
On March 30, the incident involved the 1,100 TEU cargo ship Contship Oak. The cargo vessel was either at anchor or adrift at the time of the attack. The vessel subsequently proceeded to Douala International Container Terminal. Four crew members of a Liberia-flagged container vessel have been kidnapped by pirates off Cameroon.
Attacked by pirates
Pirates attacked the Feedermax while the ship was anchored in Douala outer anchorage and took the seafarers with them.
Built in China in 2007, Contship Oak is owned by Greece-based shipping company Contships. World Maritime News contacted Contships for more details on the incident, however, the company is yet to reply.
Back in 2010, the containership was also targeted by perpetrators. In September that year, robbers boarded Contship Oak from a wooden motor boat off Manila Bay. However, robbers escaped after the crew raised the alarm and mustered.
Increasingly dangerous
In 2018, the Gulf of Guinea remained increasingly dangerous for seafarers as reports of attacks in waters between the Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo more than doubled. The incidents included all six hijackings worldwide, 13 of the 18 ships fired upon, 130 of the 141 hostages taken globally, and 78 of 83 seafarers kidnapped for ransom, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said in a January report.
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Source: WorldMaritimeNews
