03 Jan 2024 | 12:59 PM UTC
Gulf of Guinea: Suspected pirates hijack tanker, kidnap crew in Gulf of Guinea southwest of Bioko Island Jan. 1
Gulf of Guinea pirates hijack Tuvalu-flagged tanker and kidnap crew off Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, Jan. 1. Further attacks possible.
The Tuvalu-flagged Hana 1 tanker transiting from Abidjan to Douala was reportedly hijacked by suspected pirates in the Gulf of Guinea Jan. 1. The location of the hijack was approximately 30 NM (55 km, 34 miles) southwest of Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. At least two crew members, including the captain, were reportedly kidnapped. The vessel has since arrived in Douala, Cameroon. The status of the crew remains unknown. Regional and international naval organizations operating in the region have not confirmed the incident.
A heightened naval presence is likely in the Gulf of Guinea as authorities search for the perpetrators. Should piracy be confirmed, further attacks by any group responsible are possible in the near to medium term.
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.
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 first incident deep offshore in the central Gulf of Guinea since late 2022. Piracy has historically been centered around Nigeria's Niger Delta region.
