Hijacked Greek-managed Panamax released

 

http://www.tankeroperator.com/news/todisplaynews.asp?NewsID=3754

The hijacked Panamax tanker 'Energy Centurion' was released on Thursday about 60 miles east of Lagos, Nigeria and is now heading for a safe port.
The pirates stole 3,000 tonnes of fuel oil and damaged some equipment, including the communications links. It was believed that none of the 50,000 tonne cargo was touched.The Isle of Man-flagged vessel was hijacked off the Togolese capital Lome while at anchor. An official with the manager Golden Energy Management told newswires that all 24 crew members - mainly Russian - were safe.Once on board, the pirates reportedly exchanged gunfire with a Togo naval vessel that responded to a distress call, before they disappeared off the coast of neighbouring Benin.This is the second such attack in less than two weeks in the Gulf of Guinea, off the West Coast of Africa, the IMB reported and the eighth since January.In the Gulf of Guinea, pirates target slow moving and anchored vessels and steal cargoes by means of ship-to-ship transfers, unlike off the East Coast where ransoms are demanded for the vessels, cargo and crew.