Boarding - Gulf of Guinea, 104NM Southwest of Brass, Nigeria

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Incident Details

Incident Date & Time:

21 April 2025; 1920hrs

Location:

Gulf of Guinea, 104NM Southwest of Brass, Nigeria

Latitude/Longitude: 

3° 2' 60.00" N, 4° 47' 60.00" E 

Vessel Name, IMO, Type, Flag & Status

Tanker, Marshall Islands, Underway

Incident Type:

Boarding

Crew status

No injuries reported

Incident Details

Description

On 21 April 2025 at 19:20hrs UTC, a Marshall Islands-flagged Tanker was boarded by four unauthorized persons while underway approximately 104NM Southwest of Brass, Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea. The perpetrators gained access to the vessel from a craft with a black hull. The crew retreated to the citadel where they remained safe throughout the incident. The unauthorized persons remained aboard for approximately four hours, during which time they stole crew belongings, cash, and ship's property. After the perpetrators disembarked, the vessel continued her transit to Douala, Cameroon. The incident was reported to the authorities.

Response Actions

- Security Incident Reported

Stolen items

- Crew Valuables
- Ship Supplies

Key findings

This incident demonstrates a typical pattern of Gulf of Guinea piracy, where small groups of attackers board vessels underway to conduct armed robbery. The use of a black-hulled craft suggests an attempt at stealth, common in this region. The crew's successful retreat to the citadel highlights the effectiveness of this security measure in protecting personnel, though it did not prevent theft of valuables. The duration of the boarding (4 hours) is notable, indicating the attackers felt secure enough to conduct a thorough search of the vessel despite the risk of response from naval forces. This suggests a potential gap in rapid response capabilities in this area of the Gulf of Guinea.

Recommendations

- Maintain vigilant watch and early detection systems, especially in high-risk areas.

- Ensure citadel procedures are well-rehearsed and supplies are adequate for extended periods.

- Consider additional physical security measures to protect valuable ship's property and crew belongings.

Disclaimer
You have received this report as part of your organisation’s subscription. Castor Vali assessment and advice is given based on the information received and processed by us and the surrounding circumstances known to us to exist at the time. Subsequent changes to relevant information or the surrounding circumstances may affect the reliability of our assessment and advice, but we do not accept responsibility for that effect. We do not accept responsibility for the outcome of any action taken or not taken as a result of our assessment and advice unless the possibility of that action being taken or not taken is set out in specific terms in our instructions.

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