According to International news, bulk carrier Glebe Bulker was attacked by pirates reportedly off Gabon and three seafarers have been abducted.
The attack on the 58,000-dwt Glebe Bulker (built 2010) took place 4.7 nautical miles off the Owendo anchorage, its chief officer told the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
As explained, the US owner’s Eagle Bulk Ship Management in Singapore, confirmed the kidnappings and said the ship had arrived from Nigeria and was awaiting loading instructions.
Security has been mobilised to the vessel, and a contingent of 17 crew remain safely on board; unfortunately, we have been unable to locate the three missing seafarers.
The company has spoken to crew members on a second merchant vessel in the port. The attack is now believed to have occurred at 0030 UTC on Tuesday, a little earlier than initially reported.
Over the course of that night, the patrol boat had been drifting offshore Owendo, 2.6nm north east of the incident location.
However, no damage to the vessel or cargo was reported. Security companies have been warning of an uptick in pirate activity in the region.