Monjasa Reformer - crew freed from pirates

In recent weeks, the media has heard of a pirate attack on a tanker. Monjasa Reformer, in the Gulf of Guinea. During the attack, the pirates kidnapped 6 crew members, but luckily, after five weeks of captivity, they were freed. This incident shows that piracy in the region is still a serious threat to shipping.

The Gulf of Guinea remains one of the most dangerous areas for maritime transport. Monjasa Reformer, flying the flag of Liberia, on board with 16 crew members, was attacked on March 25 by a group of pirates, about 140 nautical miles west of Port Pointe-Noire in Congo.

Montec Ship Management, which operates the ship, reported the incident to the naval cooperation center conducted by the British and French Navy, which are designed to maintain safety in the Gulf of Guinea. Monjasa also cooperates with the maritime authorities in the region, including several Navys.

The tanker was taken along with the 6th crew members. Four days after the attack, thanks to the collaboration of the French Navy and the naval security agency, the ship was located off the coast of Sao Tomé and Principe, approximately 90 miles south of Bonny, Nigeria. After the service boarded the tanker, it was revealed that the pirates had escaped by kidnapping 6 crew members.

On Monday, May 8, after five weeks of kidnapping, the owner of the tanker Monjasa Reformer has confirmed that the hijacked sailors have been found and that all crew members released are in relatively good health, given the difficult circumstances they have been in for the past five weeks. After medical inspection, crew members return safely to their families.

Pirate attacks on the seas are still a serious threat to the safety of crews and merchant ships, especially in areas such as the Gulf of Guinea. However, thanks to the cooperation of maritime security agencies and armed forces, as well as through the use of ship security measures, such attacks are becoming increasingly rare.

Monjasa called for safe transport routes and a secure zone off the coast of West Africa to be monitored by the international coalition. The company stressed that anti-piracy policy, which includes measures both during and after the robbery, is constantly assessed according to the risk environment.

This and many other incidents of piracy in the region show the need for joint international action. Monjasa also expressed her gratitude to the families of her crew members for their support and perseverance in difficult times. Without their help and understanding, it would be difficult for the crew to deal with such a difficult situation. Thanks to their support, the crew could focus on performing their duties and returning home in safety.

In her statement, Monjas stressed that the anti-piracy policy, which includes measures both during and after the robbery, is continuously assessed according to the risk environment. The company also expressed admiration for its crew members for the courage they showed in the difficult situation and thanked the families for their patience and resilience during this stressful period.

Monjasa Reformer He's one of the many tankers who've fallen victim to pirates in the Gulf of Guinea. It was there in May 2020 that the pirates kidnapped 20 sailors from several different ships who were released after a few weeks. In June of the same year, the pirates kidnapped 6th sailors from a tanker flying the Greek flag, who were later found in Nigeria. Similar incidents have also occurred in other parts of the world, but the Gulf of Guinea remains one of the most dangerous areas for maritime transport. Thanks to the activities of organizations such as the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, seafarers and their ships are able to obtain the assistance and protection they need.

The latest incident shows that, despite the decline in piracy incidents, seafarers are still at risk in the region. According to the Piracy Center of the International Maritime Office, only five reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea were reported in the first quarter of 2023, which is a smaller number compared to the 8th in 2022 and 16th in 2021. Although the trend is declining, the IMB Piracy Reporting Center underlines the continuing need for vigilance and rapid naval response in case of incident reporting. IMB PRC continues to encourage rapid reporting of all incidents.

The IMB Piracy Reporting Center, founded in 1991, monitors reports of piracy and armed assaults to provide ships and their crews, as well as the marine industry, response agencies and governments with the necessary data to respond rapidly to such incidents.

Written by MD