EuropeOperationsPiracy

Crew from Tommi Ritscher citadel rescued, eight remain hostage

Nigerian special forces have rescued 11 crewmembers from the Portuguese-flagged containership Tommi Ritscher, which was attacked by pirates off Benin on Sunday, while the remaining eight crew members continue to be held hostage.

According to an update by maritime security consultancy Dryad Global, local authorities spotted a speedboat alongside the vessel, forcing the boat to flee but leaving the perpetrators onboard the vessel.

The special forces rescued eleven crewmembers who had fled to the citadel after the pirates attacked the ship. The remaining eight are believed to be held hostage by the pirates onboard the vessel.

“Whilst the full details of the incident remain unknown, incidents within the anchorage area have predominantly been limited to suspicious approaches and boardings for the purposes of petty theft,” Dryad Global said in an update

It is the second piracy incident within the Cotonou anchorage this year and the fifth incident in the location within the last 12 months.

Jason Jiang

Jason is one of the most prolific writers on the diverse China shipping & logistics industry and his access to the major maritime players with business in China has proved an invaluable source of exclusives. Having been working at Asia Shipping Media since inception, Jason is the chief correspondent of Splash and associate editor of Maritime CEO magazine. Previously he had written for a host of titles including Supply Chain Asia, Cargo Facts and Air Cargo Week.
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