The 2,668 teu MSC Mandy has been targeted by pirates off Benin with Ambrey Intelligence reporting six crew have been kidnapped. The attack took place 55 nautical miles off Cotonou.
has been targeted by pirates off Benin with Ambrey Intelligence reporting six crew have been kidnapped. The attack took place 55 nautical miles off Cotonou.The Panama-flagged was attacked and boarded. The container vessel was outbound from Togo at 12 knots when the attack took place.
The ship is now anchored off Lagos according to vessel tracking services from MarineTraffic.
“MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company confirms that a small container ship was attacked on 2 January in the Gulf of Guinea and several crew members were reported as missing. MSC quickly secured the vessel and its cargo and ensured the safety of the remaining seafarers on board. Out of respect for the missing crew members and their families, MSC has no further comment for the time being,” a spokesperson for MSC told Splash.
NO GUARDS ????
MSC SAVING MONEY !!!!!
If proven their were no armed guards on board the “M.S.C Mandy”, through national policy, or appointed maritime armed national security in the local area, in a very high risk area, then questions need to be asked at a decision making level. WHAT PROVISION HAS NOW BEEN MADE FOR THE RELEASE AND RETURN OF THOSE KIDNAPPED, AND THEIR WELFARE. also in consideration what of the sea-mans salary’s – and their dependents back home, whilst the seaman remain hostages. what happens to all the sea – men’s belongings held on the ship. once a hostage negotiation release team has been assembled, at what cost will this be incurred along with the ransom paid undisclosed of course. all the stress completely unnecessary if only the shipping company and or charterer had initially sorted out their security requirements for this vessel and crew for the transit route.