Incidents in the Gulf of Guinea continue unabated, as indicated by new reports of assaults on ships in this region, including another boarding last week. With the increasing interventions, there have been growing calls from European ministers and shipping companies for decisive action to be taken on the dire situation in the African Gulf.
In an attempt to reinforce security in this territory, the Nigerian authorities and the Council of the European Union are committing themselves to take corresponding measures. These actions follow a new round of attacks that included the killing of a sailor by pirates in the region. The Turkish ambassador met with officials from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Security Agency (NIMASA) to discuss the assault and kidnapping of 15 seafarers from the Turkish-operated container ship Mozart.
The vessel was in transit about 95 nautical miles northwest of Sao Tome when it was boarded by four armed assailants on January 23. The crew retreated to the ship’s citadel, but the pirates managed to breach it, resulting in the death of one crewmember and the kidnapping of 15 of the crew.
“I assured him that we are doing everything possible for the safe return of the 15 kidnapped Turkish sailors aboard the Liberian flagged vessel out of Nigerian waters,” wrote Bashir Jamoh, Managing Director/CEO of NIMASA and Chairman of CIoTA, Nigeria.
This comes as Eagle Bulk issued a brief statement confirming reports that its dry bulk carrier Rowayton Eagle was boarded about 240 miles southeast of Lagos, Nigeria. “We are very happy to report that the incident has been resolved and our crew is safe and unharmed, and the vessel is fully operational,” Eagle Bulk writes.
Safety consultants Dyad Global reported that the vessel was drifting while the crew was gathering at the citadel. Dryad says a Ghanaian navy vessel tried to help, but due to mechanical problems was unable to reach the bulk carrier. A Nigerian security escort vessel escorted the ship to Nigerian waters.
This is the seventh offshore incident in 2021 and the third successful boarding according to Dryad’s analysis. “Incidents involving failed approaches showed a significant increase in 2020 with 25 such incidents,” Dryad writes and notes that there were 10 failed boarding attempts in 2019.
Based on the continued incidents and the inability of local governments to stop the attacks, Nigerian media outlet Thisday reports that the Council of the European Union has decided to help by seeking better coordination of efforts in the region.
European Union in Action
The EU has reported that it will work to ensure political control and provide strategic guidance to West and Central African states to address the many challenges to maritime security, including organized crime. The EU also affirmed its commitment to increase work with the Gulf of Guinea littoral states through increased European operational engagement.
While the EU has not confirmed its plans for the region, the Ukrainian government intervened to secure the release of eight crew members abducted from the bulk carrier Stevia in mid-December.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted an online message reporting the release of the crew, including six Ukrainians.
“Today, six Ukrainian sailors, crew members of the Stevia ship, who were in pirate captivity in Nigeria for a month and a half, were released. Our citizens are safe, we are waiting for their early return to their homeland, “the president wrote. Zelensky thanked the Ukrainian diplomats who negotiated the return of the prisoners.
