In a concerning incident, the Panama-flagged bitumen tanker BITU River was briefly commandeered by pirates approximately 40 nautical miles southeast of São Tomé and Príncipe. The vessel, operated by Rubis Asphalt, was en route from Lomé, Togo, to Douala, Cameroon, when three unauthorized individuals boarded it. Reports indicate that shots were fired during the attack, but thankfully, the 14 crew members onboard were unharmed. After the pirates left the vessel, the BITU River resumed its journey and is now heading to Libreville, Gabon, for refuge.
This incident highlights the growing threat of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, which has become a hotspot for maritime crime. According to maritime security experts, this region is now the “new stomping ground for pirates in West Africa.” Since January 2024, six vessels have been boarded off the coasts of Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, with 14 crew members kidnapped in three separate attacks.
The BITU River, a 15,500 dwt tanker built in 2022, is the fifth bitumen tanker in Rubis Asphalt’s fleet. The company specializes in distributing bitumen across West and Central Africa. Fortunately, in this case, the crew was able to secure themselves, and no kidnappings or thefts were reported.
This attack follows a similar incident near São Tomé and Príncipe in late December 2023, where crew members successfully locked themselves in the ship’s citadel to avoid harm. Other recent incidents include a pirate approach off Equatorial Guinea and an attack on a fishing boat near Gabon at the end of January.
Maritime authorities are urging vessels operating in the Gulf of Guinea to remain vigilant and adhere to strict security protocols. The region continues to pose significant risks to shipping and crew safety.
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