The nine crew members of the LPG gas carrier CGAS Saturn have been safely released following a piracy incident off the coast of West Africa. The vessel’s owner, Christiania Gas, confirmed on December 29 that the crew is being repatriated after their ordeal, which began on December 3 when the ship was approximately 50 nautical miles from the African coast, en route to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
During the incident, an unknown number of pirates boarded the vessel, taking personal belongings and abducting nine crew members. Four crew members remained on board, one of whom suffered minor injuries. This individual received initial treatment on the ship before being transferred to a hospital onshore. After the attack, the remaining crew successfully navigated the CGAS Saturn to a secure port in West Africa.
While the company has not disclosed details regarding the crew’s release or their nationalities, Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that a Polish sailor has returned home to his family. Despite a reported decline in piracy activity in the region, security experts warn that threats persist. The Neptune P2P Group noted at least 17 piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea over the past year, highlighting ongoing risks to vessels operating in the area.
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