Read Authentic Ratings for the Orfeas

In a notable maritime incident, the Greek tanker Orfeas was released by pirates on October 9, 2012, at approximately 10:30 UTC. The ship's ordeal reflects the rising trend of hijackings in the Gulf of Guinea, where pirates typically loot cargo and vandalize vessels. The vessel's master communicated with the company confirming that all 24 crew members—including the Greek captain, chief engineer, and 22 Filipino sailors—are safe and unharmed. During their time in captivity, the Orfeas was navigated across the Gulf, covering a distance of about 650 nautical miles. For further details on the hijacking route, visit http://www.odin.tc/news/read.asp?articleID=1419.

A worrying situation has emerged as Grace Management S.A., the company overseeing operations of the Bahamas-flagged tanker ORFEAS, reports a loss of communication with the vessel. Disappearing off the coast of Western Africa, ORFEAS was transporting a significant cargo of 32,000 metric tons (35,000 tons) of gasoline destined for Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The crew onboard consists of two Greek nationals and 22 Filipino seafarers. As of October 8, 2012, the shipping management firm disclosed that they had not been able to reach the ship since Saturday. Alarmingly, the ORFEAS, which had initially been anchored near Abidjan, has inexplicably maneuvered southward without authorization, raising concerns it could be steering towards Lagos, Nigeria. With recent reports of piracy in the area, there is growing apprehension regarding the safety of those on board.

In a troubling incident on October 6, 2012, the Greek tanker Orfeas was hijacked around 0100 local time while conducting a Ship-to-Ship (STS) operation off the coast of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The vessel was engaged in transferring two shipments of gasoline to the lightering tanker Admiral L. After successfully offloading the first shipment, the Orfeas vanished when Admiral L returned for the second delivery. This alarming development was reported by security consultancy AKE. The last known AIS signal for the Orfeas was detected at approximately 1900 UTC on October 6, positioned at coordinates 01° 46'N, 000° 36'W—roughly 217 nautical miles south of Accra, Ghana. With over 30,000 tons of gasoline stored on board, the stakes of this hijacking are exceptionally high. The crew onboard includes 24 members, comprised of individuals from both Greece and the Philippines. AKE has indicated that if this incident is indeed a case of hijacking, it marks the first such event in the waters off Ivory Coast in recent years, raising significant concerns over maritime security in the region. For more updates, refer to the Maritime Bulletin.