The 12 of the 19 crew members of a Swiss bulk carrier Glavus (IMO 9220471) who were kidnapped by pirates off the coast of Nigeria are from the Philippines, Slovenia, Ukraine, Romania, Croatia and Bosnia, the West African nation’s maritime agency NIMASA said on Sunday, September 23rd.
The vessel was carrying wheat between Lagos and Port Harcourt and was around 45nm south west of Bonny Island when it was boarded by pirates.
Sunday Umoren, head of maritime safety at NIMASA, said that seven of those abducted were from the Philippines and one from each of the other five countries.“They are still missing,” he said.
“The company is working with the authorities and specialists to secure the speedy and safe release of those being held,” operator Massoel Shipping said.
The number of seafarers taken hostage in the Gulf of Guinea rose from 52 in 2016 to 75 last year, with a trend for pirates to take more hostages in each attack2001-built, Switzerland-flagged, 27011 gt Glarus is owned by Massmariner SA care of manager Massoel Shipping SA of Geneva, Switzerland. It is entered with Standard Club (Europe Division) on behalf of Massmariner SA.