Robbers Attack Vessel at Lagos ‎Anchorage ‎Again!

Abiodun Seun I

A fresh attack has been recorded at the Lagos anchorage.
Information reaching nigeriamaritime360.com shows that the attack came less than 72 hours after terminal operators complained to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), about the incessant attacks on vessels by miscreants and hoodlums at berth.

At a stakeholders meeting held on Thursday, a Director at ENL Consortium, Mark Walsh, complained of high rate of unchecked attacks on vessels at the Apapa Port in the last four months.
The attacks according to the manager were carried out around the Apapa axis and the attacks have informed shipping agents mulling hiring armed police officers before cargo discharge at the seaport.
The armed police officers are to ward off miscreants attacking vessels at berth.
‎But, according to a report of the latest attack which was released by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), it stated that on the 19th of May (Saturday), at the Lagos Anchorage, “seven robbers attempted to board an anchored bulk carrier using a rope attached to a hook”.

The attack was however repelled by the crew of the ships who raised an alarm.
According to the IMB, “duty crew noticed the robbers, raised the alarm and alerted the security watchmen who notified the local authorities”.

“Seeing the alerted crew the robbers aborted the attempted boarding and moved away”.

‎Recall that MV Pamyat; MV Asia Ruby, MV Aquata, MT Sichem New York, MV Kiana and MV Dino were all attacked at different times in the last four months at the Lagos and Tin-Can ports.
MV Pamyat, with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number 8701040 was attacked at berth 14, operated by ENL Consortium of the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa onn March 2, 2018 when some bandits gained access into the ship with ease.
MV Asia Ruby was attacked at 0415hours on April 24, 2018 at ENL, consortium on berth 8 of Lagos Port Complex (LPC) while discharging her cargo. The robbers carried out their nefarious act on the ship without resistance from anyone.

The Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC) also in Lagos is not spared the robbery attacks.
A report from the Port Security Officer (PSO) of TCIPC, indicated that at about 0320hours on Friday March 3, 2018, eight persons suspected to be armed sea robbers launched attacks onboard MV Aquata and MT Sichem New York, which were discharging cargoes at berths 2 and 1 operated by Josepdam of the port respectively.

Preliminary findings revealed that a gang of sea robbers came through the waterfront in an outboard engine boat and launched attacks onboard MV Aquata where three of the robbers succeeded in climbing into the vessel while the remaining five were on standby inside their boat by the portside of the vessel. The crew watchmen onboard sighted one of the robbers at the paint stores and raised an alarm immediately.