Six seafarers freed after 2-month Cameroon abduction

Six crew members who were kidnapped by pirates off the coast of West Africa on June 30 have been released, according to security company Ambrey. The crew members were abducted from the general cargo ship Oya 1, which is owned by Ocean Express of Pointe Noire. The ship had also been targeted by pirates in 2017. Ambrey warned that the release of the crew members could lead to an increased threat of kidnap for ransom against merchant vessels in the region. The company observed two Cameroonian military vessels responding to the incident, but they left the scene after just over an hour. Ambrey had previously alerted shipowners to an increased threat of pirate attacks in the area.

The Oya 1 had a 1.84-meter freeboard at the time of the incident and was anchored off Douala in Cameroon. The ship had arrived from Luanda in Angola before the attack. Ambrey had received a message from the navies operating in the Gulf of Guinea warning of a credible threat and risk to merchant vessels in the region. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of piracy in West African waters and the need for increased security measures to protect ships and crew members.

Source .