Swire Pacific Warden (Image: Swire Pacific).
Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) the other day validated that its 2002-built, Singapore flagged AHTS Pacific Warden, was struck offshore Equatorial Guinea on November 20, 2019 at about 05:00 regional time.
The vessel was sustaining overseas area procedures in Equatorial Guinea.
There were 15 team participants aboard. Eight are securely onto land and also unscathed. Seven team participants were taken by the assailants and also are missing out on. The regional authorities and also the Navy of Equatorial Guinea reacted swiftly to the case.
“The safety of the people on board our vessel is always our top priority,” stated the business. “SPO will do everything possible to secure the safe and timely return of the missing crew members, in coordination with their families and relevant authorities.”
SPO stated it had no more information presently and also asked that the media regard the personal privacy of the influenced team participants’ households.
THIRD EVENT IN LOCATION THIS YEAR
Maritime protection working as a consultant Dryad Global keeps in mind that this is the 3rd kidnapping case within 30 nm of the western side of Bioko Island within 2019 with 2 extra events entailing vessels being bombarded at a range of 50 nm.
“It is assessed that the piracy conducted in this area originates from within Nigerian waters,” claimsDryad “The PAG (pirate action group) involved is believed to be a well-established grouping with significant resources and the capacity to conduct deep offshore operations via a mothership vessel. It is assessed that the PAG involved is seeking to conduct operations beyond the Nigerian EEZ seeking to exploit the relative absence of established security presence in the 60 nm channel between the Nigerian EEZ and Bioko. All incidents within 2019 in this area have involved offshore support vessels with particularly vulnerable vessel parameters.”
