Marine Security Bulletin 6 APRIL 2023 - Security incident, involving the hijacking of an oil tanker by pirates at the west of Pointe Noire, Congo

Dear Shipowners, Operators and Masters of Liberian Flagged Vessels,

Subject: Security Incident involving the hijacking of an oil tanker by pirates at Pointe Noire, Congo 6 APRIL 2023

This bulletin is to notify you about a security incident, involving the hijacking of an oil tanker by pirates while drifting at a position 05⁰ 03’S, 009⁰ 35’ E, about 140 NM west of Pointe Noire, Congo at 22:30 UTC on 25 March 2023.

A single small craft with 10 to 12 pirates approached the vessel with at least 2 of them boarding the vessel. The 16 crew took shelter in the vessel’s citadel, and communication was cut off by the pirates. After 5 days, the vessel was located on 30 March 2023 at position 00⁰ 33'" N, 005⁰ 42' E, after 6 crew were kidnapped and taken hostage by the pirates. It is possible that the pirates may have used a mothership to launch this attack.

It is recommended that all Liberian vessel’s operating in the Gulf of Guinea extending south to the coast of the Republic of Congo implement all necessary security and anti-piracy measures equivalent to security level 2 in the approved Ship Security Plan, exercise extreme vigilance, and proceed with caution during your transit/operation in this area. Owners, operators and Masters are urged to register with Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade-Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) upon their vessel entering its voluntary reporting area and to report suspicious activity and incidents of piracy and armed robbery in a timely manner by contacting the MDAT-GoG by phone at +33 (02) 98 22 88 88, or by email to watchkeepers@mdat-gog.org.

Please refer to Marine Security Advisory - 01/2022 for additional information on the Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom, and Reporting of Incidents.

Please keep LISCR’s Security Department informed of any security incidents at:

Office of the Senior Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs

Republic of Liberia

22980 Indian Creek Drive, Suite 200 Dulles, Virginia 20166 USA

D: +1 571 495 5944 / O: +1 703 790 3434 / F: +1 703 790 5655

Email: Security@liscr.com www.liscr.com