The oil tanker MT SP Brussels has been hijacked by pirates outside the Lagos anchorage. Two crew members have been killed during the attack. The vessel has been rescued by Nigerian Navy personnel from the military vessels NNS Benin and NNS Ikot-Abasi. 15 of the 17 crew members attacked by the pirates have been successfully rescued. The manager company of the vessel, Super Maritime Nigeria Limited is waiting MT SP Brussels to be returned in their control. The oil tanker MT SP Brussels is registered with IMO number 9387164 and MMSI 538003624 (current flag - Marshall Islands, built in 2007). The last reported position of the vessel is 11 April when the pirate attack occurred. According to sources, the oil tanker was located 120NM outside Lagos and was sailing to Port Harcourt. 8 heavily armed pirates in speed boats approached MT SP Brussels and successfully hijacked the vessel. The attack was led by 6 pirates, the rest had to stay on the boats. After boarding the oil tanker, in a gun fire, 2 crew members were shot dead (one of them was the Captain). The pirates disarmed the police on the oil tanker MT SP Brussels and took control over the vessel. The crew members, fearing for their lives had fled to the Citadel (a safe location used on board ships). After the ship had been taken, the pirates searched for the crew members and found them in the Citadel. The bandits were caught during their attempt to transport products from the oil tanker. The Nigerian Navy vessels had started a pursuit and a gun duel was inevitable. The military ships were better equipped and with well trained teams. In the end, as a result of the clash between the Nigerian Navy and the pirates, 2 bandits were killed and 6 arrested.
Posted on: Tue, 20 May 2014 07:16:04 +0000
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