Seafarer shot and others kidnapped from containership in Gulf of Guinea

Up to nine crew members on a containership in the Gulf of Guinea are thought to have been kidnapped, while another is being treated for a bullet wound in the leg.

The 21-year-old CMA CGM-chartered Tonsberg was attacked by pirates some 48 nautical miles south-west of Luba, at around 4pm UK time yesterday.

The 5,551 teu vessel was headed for Cotonou, Benin, after departing from Cameroon’s Port Autonome de Kribi on Sunday, according to VesselsValue data.

Doctors on the Danish frigate Esbern Snare are treating the wounded crewman onboard the vessel.

A helicopter from the Danish Navy vessel was the first to come to the aid of the Tonsberg crew and the pilots saw a speedboat heading north towards Nigeria as it arrived.

The abducted crew are said to be Polish, Ukrainian and Filipino and details of the event remain sketchy and subject to change.

Reports from security consultant Dryad Global initially reported six crew missing, but later amended that to up to nine.

Shipowner, Athens-based Technomar and CMA CGM have said a statement would be released later today.

According to the eeSea liner database, the vessel is deployed on CMA CGM’s Asia-West Africa WAX service, jointly operated with Maersk.