Pirates on Tuesday boarded an offshore supply vessel, 15.5 miles offshore from the Qua Iboe Terminal in Akwa Ibom State in southeastern Nigeria, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre has informed.
According to the report, the pirates boarded the vessel which on stand by at the Usari offshore oil field.
Seeing the pirates, the crew raised the alarm, retreated into the citadel, alerted other vessels and shore based office by VHF and waited until the pirates had left. An investigation conducted after the pirates had left showed that ship’s and crew belongings were taken. All crew has been reported safe.
While the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre did not provide more information on the vessel in its report, some unofficial sources claim that the vessel is owned by the French company Bourbon Offshore.
Bourbon Offshore did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment, sent by Offshore Energy Today.