The Italian patrol
vessel Comandante Borsini was
dispatched to assist the product tanker, which had been boarded on November 23. The
pirates left the vessel the following day and the captain of the tanker
reported the incident to the shipping company in South Korea. Security forces
had reported losing communication with the tanker last Wednesday and requested
the assistance of vessels operating in the area to report sightings or any unusual
activity in the area.
The corvette reports that
when they reached the tanker it was adrift about 300 miles from the coast, due
to technical problems with its engines. A security team from the San Marco
Marina Brigade was placed on board the tanker by helicopter to check the
situation. They are confirming that the 19 crew members were safe but that the
pirates had robbed them of money and valuables. The pirates also for the second
time this year stole a portion of the fuel cargo from the B. Ocean. In January 2022,
it was reported that they stole 977 tons of fuel in a similar incident.
Italian forces boarded the tanker to confirm the pirates had
left and to provide assistance (Marina Militare)
A technical team from
the Borsini boarded
the tanker and was working to assist to restore the propulsion. The Italian
Navy reports that the pirates had tampered with the navigation and
communication systems. They also caused extensive damage to the engine.
Initial reports indicated
that the B. Ocean was
expected to reach Abidjan on Sunday, November 27. A spokesperson for the South
Korean Foreign Ministry however is reporting that the tanker is requiring a tow
to port. The Italian Navy is confirming the request for deep-sea tugs to
transfer the tanker to Abidjan. The B.
Ocean is now expected to reach port on Wednesday, November 30.
The Italian Navy has been
assisting in the region since 2019 with project Gabinia, a national operation
to contribute to maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. In April 2022,
another Italian frigate assisted a bulk carrier that had
been threatened in the area. In 2020, the Italian Navy sent a helicopter to another tanker that had
been boarded off Benin and helped in getting the pirates to leave the tanker
unharmed.
PUBLISHED NOV 28, 2022 12:38 PM
BY THE
MARITIME EXECUTIVE