Gulf of Guinea: Pirates board MV Mozart 100 NM northwest of Sao Tome, early Jan. 23

Event

The MV Mozart was boarded by pirates approximately 100 nautical miles northwest of Sao Tome, Sao Time and Principe, at approximately 0525 Jan. 23. The vessel was en route to Cape Town, South Africa, from Lagos, Nigeria. The latest information suggests that the crew of the container vessel has mustered in the ship's citadel.

Context

The threat of piracy is elevated in the GoG with vessels underway and anchored susceptible to acts of criminality. Naval forces, particularly those outside of Nigeria, are poorly resourced and unable to effectively deal with the issue. Incidents have been perpetrated by well-armed and organized pirate action groups (PAGs). Incidents have also occurred deep offshore likely with the aid of "mother ships," larger supporting pirate vessels. The primary motivation remains financial with kidnappers demanding a ransom for the release of the captured crew. There is an elevated threat of violence associated with maritime kidnappings in the region, particularly during rescue operations, when kidnappers may exchange fire with security personnel, posing a potential threat to the safety of the victims.

Resources

International Maritime Organization
Maritime Domain Awareness Trade - Gulf of Guinea
IMB Piracy & Armed Robbery Map 2020