Ghana: Suspected pirates board fishing vessel, kidnap at least five crew members in Gulf of Guinea May 31

Event

Suspected pirates boarded a fishing vessel and kidnapped at least five crew members approximately 145 NM (269 km/167 miles) southeast of Tema, at around 19:30 May 31. One Filipino and four South Korean nationals were abducted. No ransom demand or casualties have been reported.

Further incidents of piracy are likely in the Gulf of Guinea in the near term.

Context

The threat of piracy is elevated in the Gulf of Guinea with anchored and underway vessels being susceptible to attack. The primary motivation remains financial, with kidnappers demanding a ransom for the release of the captured crew. The International Chamber of Commerce International Maritime Bureau (ICC-IMB) reported that the Gulf of Guinea experienced a significant rise of crew kidnappings since 2019 and accounts for about 95 percent of crew members kidnapped in 2020. On May 31, the UK and French navies warned of the rising threat of piracy in the area near Ghana and Benin.

Advice

Exercise a high degree of caution if operating in the Gulf of Guinea. Ship operators should implement best management practices 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.