Discovered a Singapore-flagged ship boarded by pirates. All 20 crew members reported safe

Singapore – The Success 9 – Singapore flagged vessels pirates boarded It was spotted about 570km off the coast of Ivory Coast on Monday and was spotted on Saturday night, all 20 crew members, including Singaporeans, are safe.

In a statement issued early Sunday morning, Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said a chemical and petroleum products tanker was located off the coast of Abidjan city by the commercial vessel Monjasa Splinter.

The ship received a distress call from Success 9 which eventually alerted the MPA.

The MPA has worked closely with Success 9 owner HS Ocean, as well as multinational agencies through the Center for Information Fusion and the Monrovia Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, and has since notified the two centres.

A patrol vessel from the Ivory Coast Navy has been deployed to check and board the vessel and ensure that the entire crew is “safe and healthy”.

The ship then arrived at the port of Abidjan.

During the Success 9 investigation, the MPA collaborated with various agencies in the region, including Marine Domain Recognition for Trade in the Gulf of Guinea, a joint French-British maritime surveillance operation.

It also cooperated with regional security forces, the French Navy, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Nigerian coast guards and maritime administrations.

“All merchant vessels passing nearby have also been directed to assist in the search for Success 9,” the MPA said.

Pirates boarded on Monday and the Success 9 was unreachable and was not located by automated identification systems.

Described as “a black-hulled tanker with a white superstructure, (and) a white funnel with blue stripes”, the search for the vessel saw Ivory Coast authorities locate air and sea assets near its last known location. had been deployed.

The MPA has advised Singapore flagged vessels to exercise caution when operating in Africa. He also emphasized the need to implement the guidelines found in Best Management Practices West Africa.

Launched in March 2020 by the International Chamber of Shipping and other shipping industry associations, the publication outlines ways to mitigate piracy-related threats at sea.

“Companies should also regularly review their vessel security assessments and plans under the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.

“Companies are encouraged to report all piracy to local authorities, including both actual and attempted attacks, as well as suspicious sightings,” the MPA added.