The eleven crew members of FWN Rapide who were taken hostage on April 21 off Port Harcourt, Nigeria and spent the last four weeks in captivity have been released and are now safe, ForestWave, manager of the attacked cargo ship, informed.
“The crew are currently on their way to be reunited with their loved ones. We are extremely pleased to have been conveying this good news to all the families and friends of our seafarers,” the company added.
“All crew have received medical checks and given the circumstances are in a relatively good condition. ForestWave would like to thank all the relevant authorities and advisors for their help in securing the release of our valued seafarers.”
The mariners were sailing on board the Dutch-flagged FWN Rapide, built in 2005, from Takoradi, Ghana to Port Harourt, Nigeria when they came under attack from pirates.
Four crew members managed to escape pirate hands during the attack.
World Maritime News Staff