Singapore-Registered Vessel Safmarine Kuramo Released After Hijacking

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Thursday February 11, 2016

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has reported that the Singaporean-registered box ship Safmarine Kuramo was hijacked on February 5, 2016, and freed the next day following an operation by the Nigerian Navy.

The Safmarine Kuramo was said to have been attacked by pirates as the vessel was proceeding from Pointe Noire, Congo to Port Onne, Nigeria.

Twenty-five crew members from the Philippines, South Africa, India, United Kingdom, and Thailand were on-board.

According to a local Nigerian news report the attack occurred at 08:00 hours but the crew managed to lock themselves in the ship's citadel, or engine room.

Nigerian Navy Captain Chiedozie Okehie of the Eastern Naval Command credited the ship's captain for covertly communicating with the Navy while pirates on board tried to break into the citadel.

"Investigations are ongoing to ascertain what happened and who carried out the attack," said Okehie.

The captain of the vessel, identified as Ms. Gous-Conradie, hailed the Nigerian Navy for its prompt response to the distress call.

The Safmarine Kuramo, a 2,500 teu boxship, came into operation in 2005 and is operated by Maersk Line A/S subsidiary Safmarine.

A Lloyd's report noted that Nigeria remains a "hotspot" for violent piracy in contrast to East Africa where piracy has "died down."

In March of 2014 Ship & Bunker reported on the dangers of fuel piracy in Africa