Ghana Says Hijacked Greek Oil Tanker Likely in Togo Waters
A Greek oil tanker that vanished in the pirate-infested Gulf of Guinea is likely to have moved from Ghanaian to Togolese waters, a Ghanaian military spokesman said Sunday.
“The vessel is not in our waters,” Eric Aggrey-Quashie told Agence France Presse. “It’s gone off and they suspect it’s moving towards Togo. (The navy) is trying to get confirmation from the Togolese if they have identified any vessel in the waters.”
Greek shipping firm Fairdeal S.A. reported losing contact with the Liberia-flagged MT Fair Artemis on Thursday, when it was sailing in waters off the coast of Ghana.
The ship has 24 crew members on board and has a cargo of fuel oil, Fairdeal's statement said.
The waters of west Africa’s Gulf of Guinea are among the world’s most dangerous, recording 19 percent of all piracy incidents worldwide last year, according to the International Maritime Bureau.
Most of the piracy in the region emanates from Nigeria’s southern Niger Delta, where indigenous groups have been fighting for a greater share of the country’s oil wealth.
Niger Delta pirates are known to target vessels and steal valuable cargo such as oil.
A ship was hijacked in Togolese waters 2012, when pirates stole its fuel before releasing the crew.
Source: Agence France Presse
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