Kidnapped crew of oil tanker “Monjasa Reformer” recovered safely

Global oil and shipping group Monjasa on Monday (8 May) said the security incident involving the Liberia-flagged Monjasa Reformer and her 16 crew members in the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa has concluded.

The hijacking incident took place on 25 March off Congo in West Africa.

In a statement shared with Manifold Times, Monjasa confirmed all six crew members who were kidnapped from the oil tanker, Monjasa Reformer, are now safely recovered from an undisclosed location in Nigeria, following the hijacking of the vessel on 25 March 2023 off Congo.

“All recovered crew members are in a relatively good health condition given the difficult circumstances they have been under in the last more than five weeks. They have all been receiving medical checks and are now being repatriated to their home countries to reunite with their families.”

“We are immensely grateful for the support received from our professional advisors, navies and authorities and to all others who have helped us resolve this awful situation,” Monjasa Group CEO, Anders Østergaard, said.

The firm said it truly admired its crew members for their bravery and would like to thank all the involved families for their patience and resilience during this stressful period of uncertainty.

“In connection with the incident, we know that our crew members have been acting diligently and in accordance with the on board anti-piracy emergency protocol. The overall policy, which comprises measures to be taken both during and after a possible assault is continually evaluated according to the risk environment,” it said.

“Unfortunately, this and other recent and similar hijackings in the Gulf of Guinea clearly demonstrates the need for joint international political action to face these issues once and for all.”

In the West Africa region, Monjasa urged for safe passage routes and safe zones under an international coalition and we will continue working with our partners, authorities and fellow shipowners for a safe working environment for all seafarers.

The Monjasa Reformer, owned by Monjasa, and technically managed by Montec Ship Management, was boarded by pirates on 25 March at 22:39 UTC about 140NM west off Port Pointe-Noire, Congo.

At the time of the incident, the vessel was sitting idle with 16 crew members onboard.

On 30 March 2023, the Monjasa Reformer was located off Sao Tomé & Principe in the Gulf of Guinea by the French navy. At this point, the pirates had abandoned the vessel and left only 10 of the crew members onboard while they kidnapped the remaining six and brought them to shore in Nigeria.

Related: Pirates board Monjasa oil tanker “Monjasa Reformer” in Gulf of Guinea
Related: Pirates abandon “Monjasa Reformer”, portion of crew returns to safety

Photo credit: Monjasa
Published: 9 May, 2023