Reviews & Ratings for the Oya1

On August 21, a significant development occurred as six crew members, who were held captive by pirates, were successfully released. These individuals were abducted from the 'Oya I' vessel on June 30 while it was anchored off Douala, Cameroon. The swift response of two Cameroonian military vessels was instrumental; they arrived on the scene within minutes of the incident, although they departed shortly after their arrival, having assessed the situation. Just three days prior to this kidnapping, shipowners had been warned about a heightened risk of pirate attacks in West African waters. Notably, the 'Oya I' had previously faced a pirate attack in August 2017 off Nigeria, highlighting the ongoing threat of maritime piracy in the region.

In a harrowing incident on July 29, 2017, the merchant vessel 'Oya 1' was targeted by pirates while navigating approximately 20 nautical miles off the coast of Bonny in the Gulf of Guinea, coordinates 04 10N 006 59E. Under the cover of night, the assailants boarded the ship, resulting in the kidnapping of five crew members. After ransacking the vessel, the pirates whisked away most of the crew in a zodiac, leaving one crew member onboard. Reacting swiftly, the Nigerian Navy was notified and subsequently escorted the 'Oya 1' back to Bonny. The ship had departed from Takoradi, Ghana, just two days prior on July 27, and was presumed heading for Douala. In a related development, Moroccan maritime officials have urgently appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for assistance in negotiations with Nigerian and Congolese authorities regarding the safe return of two Moroccan crew members, both in their fifties, who were taken to an undisclosed location. These two hostages are notable graduates of the Higher Institute of Maritime Studies. As of now, the pirates have not made any demands or communicated their intentions.