Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Monjasa-Reformer

In a significant development, six crew members from the 'Monjasa Reformer' have been liberated by authorities in Nigeria on May 8, following their harrowing experience of being taken hostage by pirates. The crew members are reported to be in relatively stable condition. The incident occurred on March 25 when the 'Monjasa Reformer', an IMO number unknown, was targeted by armed pirates in the treacherous waters of the Gulf of Guinea. While the pirates eventually departed from the vessel days later, they retained six crew members as captives, leaving the remaining ten crew members onboard. This release brings a sigh of relief to the maritime community, reinforcing efforts to combat piracy in the region.

The situation involving the six crew members of the 'Monjasa Reformer,' who were abducted off the coast of West Africa, continues to develop as search efforts persist. This incident has sparked alarm over a possible resurgence of piracy in the region, which had seen a temporary decrease in such criminal activities over the past year, highlighting the ongoing threat that piracy poses to maritime operations in this area. Fortunately, the crew members who were rescued are reportedly in good health and are currently in a secure facility, receiving necessary medical attention. There were no reported damages to the vessel or the cargo, which consisted of marine gas oil and sulphur fuel oil products. The ordeal began on the night of March 25, when the crew notified management that pirates had boarded the ship. In response, all sailors activated safety protocols by retreating to the citadel, a designated safe area aboard the tanker. Aerial surveillance from the French Navy identified the vessel on March 30 and captured footage of a pirate boat in proximity to the ship. However, as naval patrols closed in, subsequent recon flights revealed that the pirate vessel had vanished. The remaining crew members aboard confirmed that six of their colleagues were taken hostage by the assailants.

In a dramatic turn of events, the French naval vessel FS 'Premier Maître L’Her' successfully located the missing tanker 'Monjasa Reformer' using an aerial drone while navigating off Nigeria's coastline. Disturbingly, as the vessel was around 90 nautical miles south of Bonny, a smaller craft, suspected to belong to the pirates, emerged from the scene, abducting six crew members. To ensure the health and safety of those still aboard, a doctor and a nurse have joined the tanker to deliver essential medical care. Additionally, the Nigerian naval ship NS 'Gongola' has arrived on the scene to extend its support and will escort the 'Monjasa Reformer' to the port of Lomé. In light of these developments, the Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) has issued a warning to all seafarers in the area, urging them to heighten their vigilance and proceed with extreme caution during their passages. For further updates, see the detailed report with visuals here: https://africaports.co.za/#6628.