Cote d'Ivoire: Tanker likely hijacked by pirates in Gulf of Guinea off Abidjan, April 10

Event

An oil tanker disappeared off the coast of Cote d'Ivoire on April 10 some 300 NM (550km, 340 miles) south-southwest of Abidjan, and remains missing as of April 12. It is reported that the Singapore-flagged Success 9 stopped its location transmission around 14:25 UTC on April 10, and has not transmitted since. It is likely it was hijacked by pirates. As part of an agreement between the Ivorian and Nigerian governments, Nigerian maritime forces have reportedly deployed to the area to locate the tanker. Further information is not currently available.

A heightened naval presence is likely in the Gulf of Guinea as authorities search for the vessel. Should piracy be confirmed, further attacks by any group responsible are possible in the near to medium term.

Context

Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and off West Africa has reduced dramatically since its peak in 2020-21, when pirates regularly targeted commercial ships, bulk carriers, cargo ships, and their crews. This hijacking would be the second incident of this type in the region in 2023, after pirates hijacked a tanker off Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo, on March 25. Piracy has historically been centered around Nigeria's Niger Delta region.

Advice

Exercise a high degree of caution if operating in the Gulf of Guinea. Ship operators should implement Best Management Practices West Africa (BMP WA) to mitigate piracy-associated threats. Companies should regularly review their ship security assessment and plan under the International Ship and Facility Security Code (ISPS), particularly in piracy-prone areas. Companies are advised to maintain strict anti-piracy watches and report all pirate activity, including both actual and attempted attacks, as well as suspicious sightings, to local naval authorities.