Bulk Carrier Crew Taken Hostage, Beaten by Robbers

Interpol Two crew members from a bulk carrier were taken hostage and beaten when a group of armed robbers boarded their vessel some 5.5 nautical miles south of Conakry, Guinea, according to the International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) piracy reporting center. Seven robbers armed with guns and knives boarded the bulker on August 24, while the vessel was anchored in the area. IMB added that the robbers escaped with crew’s cash and properties. The incident, which was reported to the local agent, is the latest one recorded during August. Six other attacks, all of which were related to boardings and robbery, were witnessed during the month. Namely, three incidents were reported off Nigeria, two of which occurred off Lagos and one off the coast of Bonny. The remaining incidents occurred aboard two anchored vessels in Congos Pointe Noire Outer Anchorage, and Vung Tau Anchorage, Vietnam, respectively, and an asphalt tanker, which was enroute from Singapore to Haiphong, off Johor, Malaysia earlier in August. World Maritime News Staff