MSB 15_2024 - Piracy Incident in the Gulf of Guinea

7 June 2024

MARINE SECURITY BULLETIN – 15/2024

Dear Shipowners, Operators and Masters  

Subject: Piracy Incident in the Gulf of Guinea

On May 29, a container ship was boarded by pirates in position 03-12N 007-58E about 33 NM southwest of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The vessel was underway when about 9 pirates boarded the vessel. It is reported that the pirates stole GMDSS equipment, ship’s provisions, and crew personal effects. The Master and Chief Engineer of the vessel have been kidnapped. There is no report of damage or casualties to the vessel, the remaining crew were able to sail the vessel to a safe port.

Security Level

All Owners, operators and Masters of Liberian flagged ships operating in or through the GoG Voluntary Reporting Area should transit with extreme caution and vigilance. For the security of human life at sea, when transiting the Gulf of Guinea and the waters near West Africa including coastal areas of the thirteen countries listed on the IMB report , all Liberian flagged vessels shall operate at security level II, continue to implement procedures in their approved Ship Security plan and be on the lookout for possible sightings of vessels engaged in piracy, or suspected to have engaged in piracy activities.

Recommendations

Owners, operators and Masters are urged to register with Maritime Domain Awareness for TradeGulf 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.

Owners, operators and Masters can request the latest Piracy and Armed Robbery Report from the ICC’s Piracy Reporting Center: IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (icc-ccs.org)

Please refer to Marine Security Advisory - 03/2023 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

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