Boarding – Upgraded to Kidnapping on the Water Phoenix

DRYAD REPORTs Reporting indicates that the reefer WATER PHOENIX IMO:9045168 was approached and boarded by an unknown number of persons. 

AIS tracking indicates that the vessel was on route to Lagos at 14kts and undertook evasive manoeuvres before coming to a stop and is currently drifting. It is reported that some of the crew have retreated to the citadel. At this stage unconfirmed reporting indicates that some crew may be uncounted for. 

It is unclear whether the perpetrators are still onboard or in the the area and it is advised that all vessels in the area maintain heightened awareness. 

This is the 13th reported incident in waters of the Lagos Port Complex and Anchorage in the past 12 months most of which have manifest as boarding for theft.

This is the 3rd offshore incidents in the waters south of Lagos within 2020. Unconfirmed reporting indicates personnel may have been kidnapped. Currently 93 personnel have been kidnapped from vessels in incidents off West Africa in 2020. 

The wider Nigerian EEZ remains the global heartland of maritime crime and piracy with incident volumes exceeding those of other area. It is the 42nd incident in Nigerian TTW in the past 12 months.