By Eyo Nsima
Product tanker, known as SEA PHANTOM has been attacked and boarded, at around 2330 UTC Feb offshore Douala, Cameroon in the Gulf of Guinea.
According to FleetMon, “Product tanker SEA PHANTOM was attacked and reportedly boarded, at around 2330 UTC Feb in Gulf of Guinea SW of Douala, Cameroon.
“The ship according to track, was en route from Lome Togo to Douala Cameroon, she’s trading in the Gulf of Guinea since at least March 2020, calling mostly, Douala, Cameroon.”
It added: “Last ship’s available AIS was dated 2300 UTC Feb 6, half an hour before the attack, she was underway sailing due to E at some 12 knots speed. Awaiting further development, updates.”
As earlier reported by The Daily, www.thedaily-ng.com, the number of the kidnapped crew has increased by 150 per cent globally because of increased piracy around the world.
In its latest report obtained by The Daily, www.thedaily-ng.com, FleetMon, stated that as a result of increasing criminal activities, the number of kidnapped crew increased from six, recorded in January 2019 to 15 in January 2020.
However, it also disclosed that the number of accidents, ships involved and casualty dropped from 108, 11, and 59 in January 2019 to 86, six, and 28 in January 2020.
This means that the movement of goods and persons through the global waterways has been threatened, thus posing a serious challenge to business and international trade.
Nevertheless, FleetMon, stated: “Principal idea and character of MB Daily is somewhat similar to Ambulance Emergency Service – MB priority is to find out about maritime accidents, involving merchant marine ships, ASAP. MB monitors only some major accidents in their development and outcome, i.e. further development of most part of reported accidents isn’t monitored.”
It also added: “A number of accidents though known to MB, aren’t included – like trivial accidents with ferries, or NUC problems which were fixed by the crew and didn’t require towage. The fishery is, generally, monitored, but only major accidents are reported.”
