Priority Broadcast Alert – West Africa

UPDATE 03: Ambrey received information that all unauthorised individuals were no longer aboard the vessel and the refrigerated cargo ship resumed its original voyage. The vessel was observed withholding its AIS signal at 10:34 UTC. Ambrey assessed the incident as closed.

UPDATE02: Ambrey received information that the vessel was not under the command of the Master. One crew member was reported injured. The rest of the crew, including the Master, were accounted for. At the time of writing, the vessel remained drifting.

UPDATE01: A Curacao-flagged refrigerated cargo ship was boarded by 7 individuals, 71NM northwest of Santo Antonio, Sao Tome and Principe. The individuals were reportedly armed. The vessel, en route from Douala, Cameroon to Matadi, Democratic Republic of Congo, reduced its speed from 13kn to 3kn at 16:02UTC. At the time of the event, the vessel had an estimated freeboard of 4.1m. The refrigerated cargo ship had called at Douala, Cameroon on 29 May, subsequently withholding its AIS signal until 15:52UTC on 30 May. ADVICE: Ambrey advises vessels review their risk and vulnerabilities prior to transiting through areas of elevated threat and proportionately engage armed security where feasible.

Ambrey is aware of an incident 71NM northwest of Santo Antonio, Sao Tome and Principe. Ambrey is investigating and will provide updates when available.