The 11,520 deadweight tonnage vessel “Aegean Star,” which was sailing from Ghana to Benin, was one of two tankers seized by pirates this weekend. It was attacked some 12.5 miles (20 km) off the coast of Benin, the managing company said.
“It is understood that all 20 seafarers on board are safe,” Aegean Bunkering Services Inc. said in a statement.
Piracy is on the rise in the Gulf of Guinea although it is not on the scale of that off Somalia.
Analysts say an increase in scope and number of attacks in a region ill-equipped to counter the threat could affect shipping and investment.
The company said the vessel was carrying 8,300 metric tons of fuel oil and 1,500 metric tons of gas oil. It added there were unconfirmed reports the vessel had been moved some miles to the south.
Separately, the Greek coastguard said in a statement the ship was attacked 30 miles off neighboring Nigeria.
Piracy off Somalia is also of major concern. On Sunday, Somali pirates seized a United Arab Emirates owned and flagged oil tanker, the MV Jubba XX, with a crew of 16 people, the European Union’s naval force said on Monday.
