Happy-Lady

Eight crew members of the 'Happy Lady' who had been taken hostage by Nigerian pirates on Dec 21, 2019, two miles off Limboh, were released on Jan 22, 2020. All of them were reported to be safe and sound. Among the kidnapped sailors were the master, engineers and officers. They were to be repatriated after medical checks. Five of them were Greek, the 45-year-old captain of the ship, a 26-year-old deck officer, a 38-year-old engineer and two sea cadets, aged 20 and 21. The other three crew were two Filipinos and a Ukrainian. During the attack a Greek national among the 28 crew on board was injured and was transferred to a local hospital.

The Greek authorities were taking all necessary measures to secure the safe return of the Greek seamen who were abducted by gunmen from the 'Happy Lady'. The purpose and aim of the abductors was to collect ransom. It was not clarified if a ransom demand has been made to the owners of the vessel. The Greek ministries for shipping and foreign affairs were closely monitoring the matter in cooperation with the vesselÄs management company. Eight of the vessel's crew members were kidnapped, among them five Greeks, including the vessel's 45-year-old master, two Philippinos and one Ukrainian. Another Greek crew member was injured in the raid and was currently being treated in hospital.

The 'Happy Lady' was attacked by pirates about two nautical miles off the port of Limboh, in position 003 34 48N, 009 03 00E, on Dec 31, 2019, at 12.10 a.m. Eight of the total 28 crew members were abducted. As soon as the incident was reported to the Operations Center of the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs was informed. Of the 28 crew members were five Greek nationals, two Filipino nationals and one a Ukrainian national. One Greek national was injured in the incident.