An oil tanker missing for a week off the coast of West Africa was
attacked by pirates who stole its cargo, the company that managed the
ship said on 12th June after speaking with its captain.
The Liberia-flagged MT Fair Artemis had last made contact with its
manager, Fairdeal Group SA, on June 4 when it was off the coast of
Ghana.
“The ship was boarded by a number of pirates who have stolen the
cargo and other items on the vessel,” Fairdeal fleet director John Gray
said in a statement, adding that all on board were safe. The statement
gave no further details.
Pirate attacks jumped by a third off the coast of West Africa last
year, pushing up insurance costs for shipping firms operating in a key
commodities export hub.
West African piracy has its roots in an uprising in Nigeria’s
oil-rich Niger Delta that has given rise to criminal networks. Gangs
target cargo, which is often fuel, and rob or kidnap crew members.
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