Read Authentic Ratings for the Milan

In a significant development, two Egyptian crew members who were taken hostage by pirates aboard the 'Milan' off the coast of Nigeria have safely returned to their homeland. Naval officer Saad Shawky and marine engineer Kiorles Samir were welcomed back to Egypt on January 8, 2021, by Ambassador Amr Mahmoud Abbas, the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Consular Affairs and Egyptians Abroad. The two sailors fell victim to piracy on November 26, 2020, when their vessel was attacked by armed assailants. The Egyptian Embassy in Abuja played a crucial role in the rescue operation, engaging in relentless communications with various Nigerian authorities and agencies. Embassy staff were dedicated to closely monitoring the situation, providing around-the-clock support and coordination. In their efforts to secure the release of Shawky and Samir, the embassy worked hand-in-hand with the shipping company that owned the 'Milan,' as well as with representatives from other nations whose crew members were also affected by the piracy incident. The Egyptian diplomatic team maintained regular contact with both hostages during their captivity, ensuring they were able to communicate with their families back in Egypt to alleviate their concerns regarding their welfare. Following their release, the Egyptian embassy in Yaoundé took charge of the final arrangements for the return of the two sailors to their home country, marking a triumphant resolution to a distressing episode.

In a positive turn of events, two Egyptian crew members from the vessel 'Milan' have been released after being captured by pirates off the Nigerian coast. The Lebanese ship owner, Adnan al-Kout, confirmed on December 21 that the Egyptians are unharmed. The 'Milan', which was en route to Cameroon, fell victim to piracy during its journey. The Egyptian embassy in Nigeria worked diligently with local authorities to ensure the crew's safe return following the pirates' abandonment of the ship. Among the crew members, there were also three Lebanese and four Indians. One of the released Egyptians, marine engineer Kirolos Samir, communicated with his family on December 21, reassuring them of his safety alongside fellow crew member Saad Shawky, as they plan to return to Cairo shortly.

On November 25, 2020, the oil tanker 'Molan' fell victim to a pirate attack approximately 14 nautical miles north-northwest of the Pennington Terminal, roughly 10 nautical miles from the Nigerian coastline. This alarming incident led to the abduction of 10 crew members as the ship was on its voyage from Escravos to Douala, Cameroon. The Automatic Identification System (AIS) data revealed that the vessel was navigating southward when it abruptly halted during the evening hours. With this recent kidnapping, the total count of crew members abducted from vessels operating in the Gulf of Guinea in 2020 surged to 128 across 24 separate incidents. Notably, this marked the sixth piracy incident (excluding Lagos) within Nigeria's territorial waters for the year.