Greek product tanker MARIA E suffers an attack, boarded in the Gulf of Guinea

By Alison Godswill

Greek product tanker MARIA E has suffered a major attack in the Gulf of Guinea, according to FleetMon.

In the report obtained by The Daily, www.thedaily-ng.com, it stated: “Greek product tanker MARIA E was attacked and boarded at 1220 UTC Feb 9 northwest of Sao Tome and Principe, while en route from Lome, Togo.

“Ship’s AIS according to available AIS providers, was off since tanker left Lome, in the morning Feb 8. No other information available at the moment, awaiting updates.

“Pirates again, in some 3 days, attacked comparatively small tanker operated by Greeks, and deployed in the Gulf of Guinea.”

It added: “MARIA E is trading in this region since at least Feb 2020, most visited ports being Bata Equatorial Guinea, Pointe Noire, Malabo. Pirates may prefer such tankers for a number of reasons.”

The Gulf of Guinea, had recorded several attacks in recent times. For instance, a Product tanker, known as SEA PHANTOM was 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.