Baldo Vessel Reviews and Specifications

The tanker 'Barrett' has been successfully released following a harrowing six-day ordeal involving piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Remarkably, all crew members are safe and unharmed. A collaborative effort from various parties played a pivotal role in bringing about this positive resolution to the crisis. Upon their return, the crew was greeted in Lagos by senior representatives from Union Maritime, along with their technical management team, highlighting the support and commitment to the wellbeing of those involved.

In a troubling escalation of maritime piracy, the tanker 'Barrett' has been commandeered by pirates in the Bight of Benin, with its entire crew accounted for. This unfortunate incident was confirmed by Union Maritime, the ship's owners, through their second official statement following the loss of the vessel's AIS (Automatic Identification System) tracking. The 'Barrett' was anchored near Benin at the time of the attack, which occurred on January 10. Ensuring the crew's safety remains the top priority for the company, which is actively engaged in ongoing efforts to resolve the situation swiftly and successfully. The 'Barrett' last communicated its position late on January 9 while anchored in Benin. In response to the hijacking, Union Maritime promptly alerted local maritime authorities and has explored all viable options while closely monitoring developments. The safety of the 22 crew members aboard the 'Barrett' is of greatest concern. The tanker had set sail from Lagos, Nigeria, on the evening of January 5, navigating westward before arriving in the vicinity of Lomé, Togo, on January 6. After departing from Togo on the afternoon of January 8, the vessel headed east but made an abrupt turn towards the shore near Cotonou, Benin, shortly before its AIS tracking ceased.

The maritime community is on high alert following the disappearance of the tanker Barrett, which has been missing since either January 9 or 10, 2018, near Cotonou in the Gulf of Guinea. The last recorded AIS tracking data indicates the vessel's position on January 9 at 02:14 a.m., with coordinates of 06°14'N 002°30'E. Reports suggest that the Barrett may have fallen victim to hijackers, likely targeting the vessel for cargo theft, as it was partially loaded at the time of its disappearance. Additionally, concerns are mounting that some of the 22 crew members aboard may have been taken hostage.