Feeder container ship Pacora (IMO 9404821) was a victim of armed robbers during the evening of March 6th. They boarded the vessel and stole from containers after the vessel had left Guayaquil, Ecuador, and was bound for Balboa.
Ecuadorian news agency expreso.ec reported the attack, stating that the vessel was boarded by armed robbers when the ship was passing buoy 66, shortly after the guards left it. They stayed on board for some 40 minutes, broke into nine containers, apparently knowing what containers to open.
They also seized a crew member who was in bow area, taking his phone and radio.
They eventually left the ship near buoy 52, loading two boats with looted goods. The ship continued its voyage and the crew are safe.
A short video was made by crew member from the bridge and later obtained by Expreso.
As of March 9th the vessel was underway from Guayaquil to Balboa, Panama.
2008-built, Jamaica-flagged, 7,464 gt Pacora is owned by Pacora Harren & Partner care of manager Harren & Partner Ship Management GmbH & Co KG, of Bremen, Germany. It is entered with West of England (European Claims Team) on behalf of Harren & Partner Schiffahrts GmbH & Co. KG MS “Pacora”.