Navy Foils Hijack of Merchant Ship, Recues 25 Foreigners
The Nigerian Navy
has foiled an attempt by suspected sea pirates to hijack and abduct 25
foreign nationals aboard a Maersk merchant ship carrying general cargo
to Nigeria.
Briefing
journalists on Sunday at Onne Sea Port, Rivers, Olusegun Soyemi, the
Executive Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, said the
vessel berth safely with the rescued crew members unharmed.
Mr. Soyemi said the
crew members, including the ship's captain, were of mixed nationalities
consisting of eight Philippines, eight South Africans, five Indians,
two Britons and two from Thailand.
According to him,
Safmarine Kuramo, a Maersk merchant ship registered in Singapore, was
transporting general cargo from Port-Noire, Congo, to Onne Sea Port in
Rivers.
"On Jan. 5 at about
08:00 hours; Safmarine Kuramo was attacked by sea pirates about 60
nautical miles off the coast of Bonny Island (in Rivers) Fairway Bouy.
"We got may-day
distress call that the ship was boarded by unconfirmed number of sea
pirates after entering the nation's territorial waters.
"We immediately
dispatched a warship (NNS Centenary) and attack gunboats led by Navy
Capt. Chiedozie Okehie of the Eastern Naval Command to rescue the
situation.The sea pirates apparently on sighting advancing naval troops fled the scene for fear of being arrested by our operatives.
"The operation was
largely successful as all 25 foreign crew members, including the
captain, are safe and unhurt, while cargo onboard the ship is intact,"
he said.
Mr. Soyemi,a Navy
Captain, said the pirates had fired several gunshots at the ships
control room apparently to scare and subdue any resistance from the
captain and crew members.
Also, the
Commanding Officer of NNS Centenary, Chiedozie Okehie, who led the
operation, said the crew members locked and hid themselves in the ship's
citadel (engine room).
He said the rescue was successful partly due to the courage and bravery exhibited by the ship's captain - a woman.
According to him,
in spite all odds, she covertly gave navy operatives briefs while
pirates on board the ship made several attempt to break into the
citadel.
'"Immediately we
got to the ship, we carried out thorough searches of the compartments
and cabins to check if any pirate had remained onboard.
"Investigations are ongoing to ascertain what happened and who carried out the attack," he assured.
Mr. Okehie said the
navy under the command of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas remained fully
committed to safety of the nation's waterways and maritime environment.
Speaking, the Captain of Safmarine Kuramo, Zetta Gous-Conradie, a South African, described the experience as horrific.
Ms. Gous-Conradie hailed the Nigerian Navy for its prompt response to her distress call.
"We are very grateful when the navy came onboard because at some point we had thought the pirates would take us hostage.
"The heat was
stifling because the temperature was very hot at the citadel, and at
some point my crew members and I had thought we would suffocate and
die," she said.
(NAN)
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