The UK/French Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade – Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) reports that a crude oil tanker in the Gulf of Guinea has been fired on by pirates.
The attack took place on Monday 12 December 2022, some 89 nautical miles off the Kome-Kribi Marine Terminal in Cameroon.
The tanker had completed loading a cargo when pirates approached in a skiff and at a range of about 200 metres opened fire with three shots towards the tanker’s accommodation area.
For some reason the attack went no further and was not escalated.
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The crew of the tanker, which was not immediately identified, were unharmed and the vessel was able to depart on its voyage away from the coast. The ship’s ultimate destination is thought to be Wilhelmshaven.
MDAT-GoG is a cooperation centre between the Royal Navy (UKMTO) and the French Navy (MICA-Center) in support of the Yaounde Process. This centre has been in operation since 20 June 2016.
According to MDAT-GoG its primary purpose is to contribute by “maintaining coherent maritime situational awareness in the central and western African Maritime areas, with the ability to inform and support industry.
“MDAT-GoG contributes to the safety and security of the Mariner in the regional maritime domain.”
Of the 90 global piracy and armed robbery incidents, 13 have been reported in the Gulf of Guinea region – compared to 27 over the same period of 2021.
