Versa Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

In a promising development, nine crew members of the oil tanker 'Alpine Penelope' have been freed after their abduction by armed pirates off the coast of Benin on February 20. Fortunately, the crew members have returned in good health, although details regarding a potential ransom payment remain undisclosed. Family members have been notified of their loved ones' release. The incident unfolded when the pirates launched an attack on the vessel, which was sailing at a speed of 13 knots, and discharged multiple rounds during the operation. This has intensified calls from various maritime organizations for enhanced security measures in the Gulf of Guinea, urging the international community to deploy warships to ensure the safety of shipping lanes. To date, France has confirmed its commitment to send a naval vessel to assist in protecting these vital waters.

In a shocking maritime incident, the oil tanker 'Alpine Penelope' was forcibly boarded by two armed assailants on February 20, 2020, at approximately 1:10 AM. The attack occurred 73 nautical miles southeast of Kpeme, at coordinates 05°10'N 002°05'E, while the vessel was making its way from Amsterdam to Lagos. After the assault, the ship's SSAS (Safe Ship Identification System) was activated; however, communication with the vessel was subsequently lost. Following a harrowing 10 hours of drifting southward, the 'Alpine Penelope' managed to resume its course and arrived at a secure anchorage near Lagos at 8:45 PM. Unfortunately, it was later revealed that 10 out of the ship's 24 crew members, which included sailors from Georgia, the Philippines, and Ukraine, had been kidnapped during the incident. At the time of the tanker’s arrival, the Nigerian naval patrol vessel NNS 'Nguru' was actively safeguarding the anchorage area to ensure security and prevent further incidents.