Tanker Released

The Greek-operated tanker hijacked by pirates off the Gulf of Guinea, on Africa’s west coast, has been released.

Pirates release tanker off West africa

The captain of a Greek-operated tanker said on Tuesday his vessel had been hijacked by pirates off the Gulf of Guinea, on Africa’s west coast, and then released.

The Orfeas, which was carrying 24 crew members, was released on Tuesday morning, three days after it went missing.

Grace Management, the tanker’s Athens-based operator, did not disclose information on the Orfeas’ current whereabouts or who was responsible for its hijacking.

The vessel had been carrying nearly 32 100 tons of petrol to be discharged in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, but instead sailed south without explanation, the company said on Monday.

Pirates in the Gulf of Guinea have traditionally targeted ships carrying lucrative cargo, while East Africa’s Somali pirates frequently take hostages for ransom.

Source: News24