Msc-Mandy-Iii

On Jan 30, six Russian crew members of the "MSC Mandy", who had been kidnapped in Gulf of Guinea on Jan 2, were released, according to Russian Embassy in Nigeria. All released seamen were well.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) was setting up a team to negotiate with the pirates who kidnapped six Russian sailors from the "MSC Mandy" off the coast of Cotonou, Benin Republic, on Jan 2. They have engaged security experts and were creating a team for contacting the pirates. The team will include lawyers, negotiators, and employees of a company that deals with security. The company had already recruited experts who had provided recommendations on a plan to rescue the abducted seamen and has also communicated with the Russian Embassy in Nigeria, asking it to influence the Nigerian authorities When the ship was raided and looted, pirates took the captain, his chief mate, and six Russian sailors captive. There were 23 Russians and a Ukrainian citizen on board. The ship then docked at the port city of Cotonou. The Russian Embassy in Nigeria swas cooperating with the Nigerian government in order to track down the location of the captives.

The six crew members taken hostage from the "MSC Mandy" near the Benin coast have not been located. The kidnappers have not yet made contact. Between Jan 1 and 2, eight to ten pirates seized the container ship in the territorial waters of Benin, stole stores and kidnapped six men There were between 24 and 26 people on the ship, including 20 Russians, four Ukrainians and two Georgians. The ship was sailing from Lome to Lagos when it was attacked. After the incident, the ship continued to Nigeria before returning on Jan 5 to the main port of Benin. Diplomats visited the ship and met with crew members in the port of Benin. Several replacement crew members, including a captain, were brought on board. None of the crew members were injured.