Pirates Kidnap Three Romanian Sailors in Togo

Pirates attacked a ship with 21 Romanian sailors aboard approximately 3 nautical miles south of the port of Lome in Togo and kidnapped three of the sailors. Romanian authorities have activated the crisis management cell.

Romania’s Free Trade Union of Navigators (SLN) announced the incident on Sunday, stating “MAE, through a press release, confirmed that the pirates kidnapped three Romanian natives, and the rest of the crew managed to arrive on time in the pre-established safe place in case of pirate attack.”

The pirates left the area after the attack and the ship was escorted into the safe anchorage area off the port of Lome. The case is now under the responsibility of the designated entities that will take appropriate measures to ensure that seafarers are released safely, according to SLN.

The union warns that pirate incidents have increased in intensity in the Guinea Bay area, to unprecedented levels, which affects seafarers and global shipping.

The attacked ship, HISTRIA IVORY, under Maltese flag, transports petrochemical goods from Togo to Liberia. Its entire crew consists of Romanian nationals.

Source: Romania Insider