What Crew Members Say About Arequipa-Queen

On the evening of May 3, 2019, at approximately 8:10 PM, the bulk carrier 'Arequipa Queen' experienced a tense situation while navigating approximately 52 miles WNW of Cabo Pasado, Ecuador, at coordinates 0°08.0'S 81°19.9'W. Two speedboats, each carrying five individuals, approached the vessel, prompting an immediate response from the crew. Alarms were sounded as the crew mustered to address the potential threat. In an effort to evade the situation, the 'Arequipa Queen' increased its speed and executed evasive maneuvers. The crew also deployed charged fire hoses to deter the approaching boats, successfully causing them to retreat. Fortunately, both the crew and the vessel remained safe throughout the encounter. Following the incident, the 'Arequipa Queen' arrived at the Libertador Simon Bolivar Container Terminal in Guayaquil on May 8 at 2:00 AM.