Families of kidnapped Seafarers Call for Urgent Assistance

Family members of crewmembers kidnapped from the product tanker BITU River off the west coast of Africa last week have publicly appealed for assistance, frustrated by a lack of information. The Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade – Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) recorded the incident on March 18, revealing that 10 crewmembers were abducted from the Panama-flagged bitumen tanker operated by Rubis Asphalt. The vessel was en route from Lomé, Togo, to Douala, Cameroon, when the attack occurred approximately 40 nautical miles southeast of Santo Antonio do Príncipe.

During the attack, the crew sought refuge in the vessel’s citadel and engine room, but surrendered when the pirates forcefully breached these areas. Ten crewmembers, including seven from India and three from Romania, were kidnapped, while the remaining crew were threatened and confined to a cabin. The pirates also stole personal belongings before leaving the vessel, which then proceeded to Libreville, Gabon, for refuge. The families were informed of the kidnappings the following day by the company, which assured them that the crewmembers were unharmed.

The families are now appealing to the Indian government for assistance, seeking swift diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the kidnapped crewmembers. The authorities have not provided further comments on the situation. The tanker, BITU River, arrived at the Owendo Anchorage in Gabon on March 18, where it remains anchored. The families are urging for urgent action to ensure the safe return of the abducted crewmembers and are calling for support in navigating this challenging situation.

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