The Nigeria Maritime Administration and
Safety Agency (NIMASA) has begun the process for the rescue of the 12
crew members crew of a Swiss bulk carrier, MV Glarus, which was hijacked
on Saturday by pirates in Rivers state.
Safety Agency (NIMASA) has begun the process for the rescue of the 12
crew members crew of a Swiss bulk carrier, MV Glarus, which was hijacked
on Saturday by pirates in Rivers state.
MV Glarus, owned by Allison Shipping, was hijacked by pirates off the Bonny Island in Rivers for a ransom.
The NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dakuku
Peterside, in Lagos condemned the act and gave the assurance that that
the agency was working hard to ensure the release of the crew.
Peterside, in Lagos condemned the act and gave the assurance that that
the agency was working hard to ensure the release of the crew.
“We are working closely with Forward
Operation Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Navy, the Falcon Eye alongside
others to secure their release unconditionally.
Operation Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Navy, the Falcon Eye alongside
others to secure their release unconditionally.
“The agency is saddened about the attack
and the perpetrator will surely be brought to book to serve as deterrent
to others,” Peterside said.
and the perpetrator will surely be brought to book to serve as deterrent
to others,” Peterside said.
According to him, the issue of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is a challenge that must be tackled head-on.
He said that the agency would ensure safety on the nation’s waterways.
NIMASA recently adopted an all encompassing maritime security model tagged, Total Spectrum on Maritime Security Strategy.
Pirates kidnapped 12 crew members from a
Swiss bulk carrier in Nigerian waters which was carrying wheat between
Lagos and Port Harcourt .
Swiss bulk carrier in Nigerian waters which was carrying wheat between
Lagos and Port Harcourt .
It was attacked around 45 nautical miles south west of Bonny Island in oil rich Niger Delta .
The pirates apparently used long ladders
and cut the razor wire on deck to gain access to the vessel and
destroyed the ship’s communications equipment before leaving.
and cut the razor wire on deck to gain access to the vessel and
destroyed the ship’s communications equipment before leaving.
Massoel Shipping issued a
statement saying it was working with authorities and specialists to
ensure a rapid release of those detained.
statement saying it was working with authorities and specialists to
ensure a rapid release of those detained.
According to the Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, seven of the kidnapped men
are from the Philippines and one from each of Slovenia, Ukraine,
Romania, Croatia and Bosnia.
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, seven of the kidnapped men
are from the Philippines and one from each of Slovenia, Ukraine,
Romania, Croatia and Bosnia.
The second quarterly report from the ICC
International Maritime Bureau, released in July, states that six
separate incidents of crew kidnapping had occurred so far in 2018,
involving 25 crew members, all in the Gulf of Guinea.
International Maritime Bureau, released in July, states that six
separate incidents of crew kidnapping had occurred so far in 2018,
involving 25 crew members, all in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Bureau highlights the
area as high-risk and states that the true number of incidents in the
Gulf of Guinea may be significantly higher than reported.
area as high-risk and states that the true number of incidents in the
Gulf of Guinea may be significantly higher than reported.
