Maritime Accident News

Nigerian pirates becoming bolder with offshore attacks

The seas are becoming increasingly unsafe for maritime workers, as pirates step up their efforts to attack vessels traveling in foreign waters.  According to maritime experts, Nigerian pirates are extending their reach off the coast of West Africa, making waters near Benin about as dangerous as those frequented Somali pirates on the other side of Africa.

Recently, a Liberian vessel was attacked, killing a Ukrainian sailor and wounding two crew members.  The attack on the ship ultimately failed, but not before damage was done.  Only one pirate was captured and turned over to authorities in Benin.

According to the London-based International Maritime Bureau, it is possible that the West African coastline sees as many pirate attacks as off the coast of Somalia, but western attacks are, for some reason, reported far less often.

Authorities blame poverty, fractured political systems and easy money for the surge in pirate attacks around Nigeria and Somalia over the last few years.  The heavily trafficked areas around Nigeria are ripe for attack, with a high volume of oil tankers, cargo ships, reefers, and tugs navigating the dangerous waterways.

It is believed that the oil-rich Niger Delta is attracting both pirates and oil-company vessels, as local pirates fight for a share of the profits.  In some instances, fishermen have turned to piracy to retaliate against ships they accuse of dumping toxic waste and devastating the local fish populations.

Regardless of the cause, pirate attacks will continue as long as ship owners offer large cash rewards to pirates for releasing their poorly protected ships.

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