Liberia issues bulletin on piracy and security in the Gulf of Guinea

The Liberia Maritime Authority issued Marine Security Bulletin – 30/2024 regarding the piracy incident in the Gulf of Guinea.

Incident Overview:

On December 20, 2024, a container vessel was targeted by pirates while approaching the coast of Equatorial Guinea, with the vessel located at position 01-37.8N 008-45.0E. Upon spotting a pirate skiff approaching, the vessel's master sounded the general alarm. The crew members immediately entered the citadel for safety, leaving only the master, 2nd officer, and helmsman to conduct evasive maneuvers and operate the fire pump. The pirate skiff fired shots at the vessel and came as close as 0.1 nautical mile. Despite this, the vessel’s master successfully executed evasive actions, and the pirate skiff eventually fled without boarding the vessel. There were no injuries to the crew, and only minimal damage was reported to the vessel. After the incident, the vessel safely continued on its planned voyage to the next port of call.

Security Level Update:

Given the ongoing threat of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, the Liberia Maritime Authority has issued a reminder for all Liberian-flagged vessels operating in or through the Gulf of Guinea Voluntary Reporting Area. These vessels should transit with extreme caution and maintain