Discover the Ambika: Ratings & Maritime News

In a successful operation, three crew members taken hostage by pirates aboard the 'Ambika' vessel have been freed. The dramatic rescue took place on January 8, 2023, following their abduction on January 2, 2023. A spokesperson for the Nigerian Navy confirmed that the operation was executed by special military forces in Ondo, a coastal state in southwestern Nigeria. The rescue mission lasted for approximately three hours within the Niger Delta region, leading to the apprehension of one pirate, while the rescued crew reportedly sustained no injuries. Following their release, the crew members were promptly transported to a nearby naval base for safety, while several other pirates managed to evade capture, despite sustaining injuries during the altercation.

In a harrowing incident on the night of January 2, 2020, the dredger 'Ambika' fell victim to a brutal pirate attack southwest of Barri on the Ramos River, approximately miles east of the Forcados Terminal. A fierce gunfight erupted between armed military security personnel stationed on the vessel and the assailants, resulting in the tragic loss of four guards' lives and leaving two others injured. The pirates successfully boarded the ship and kidnapped three crew members: two Russian nationals and one Indian. Fortunately, five other crew members remained safe on board after the tumultuous encounter.