The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre received information from ECOWAS MMCC Zone F that the Fishing Vessel SHENGHAI2 (MMSI: 412201825) was boarded and hijacked by thirteen pirates armed with guns while underway approximately 16nm SW of Freetown, Sierra Leone. The vessel was last reported to be heading towards Liberian EEZ. The Sierra Leone and Liberia Coast Guard have been notified.
Update: The pirates reportedly took hostage the vessel's 23 Crew (6 Chinese and 17 Sierra Leonean nationals). The Liberian Coast Guard located the vessel off Monrovia, Liberia. After an exchange of gunfire between the pirates and the Coast Guard, the vessel and Crew were secured. Crew is reported safe. Two pirates were apprehended, along with four weapons seized, while the others escaped.
MDAT-GoG reported the incident ended on 24th of July 2023.
This is not the first time the SHENGHAI2 has been attacked. In August 2020 the FV was boarded approximately 8nm off Freeport by perpetrators armed with shotguns and machetes. The Crew reportedly sustained serious injuries during the incident.
This is the second incident reported within the last three weeks near Sierra Leone waters, with the last reported incident occurring 05 July 2023. Nine out of twenty-two reported incidents within the region this year have included armed individuals and or use of force in incidents, with remaining incidents being attempted boardings, kidnapping with explicit mention of the use of force, or non-violent theft. Seven of twenty-one reported incidents this year have occurred while underway, with the remaining being berthed or at anchor. Most reported incidents within the region have occurred in the vicinity of the Gulf of Guinea.
All vessels transiting within the area are advised to exercise extreme caution, remain vigilant, retain an enhanced local surveillance, maintain strict Anti-Piracy Watch, and apply BMP WA procedures. Report any suspicious activity to authorities.
|