Danish owner Christiania Gas is still trying to reach the group that abducted nine crew members from its LPG tanker CGas Saturn in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa last week. The company says its priority is to secure the safe and prompt release of the seafarers.
According to a company statement, Christiania Gas continues efforts to open lines of communication with those holding the nine seafarers taken from CGas Saturn, and is focused on arranging their earliest safe return.
The incident occurred on 3 December, when pirates boarded the Portugal-flagged LPG tanker CGas Saturn in the Gulf of Guinea and removed nine members of the crew. The 3,090 dwt vessel, built in 2003, was able to continue under the control of four remaining seafarers.
See also: LPG Tanker Attacked Off Equatorial Guinea, Nine Crew Members Kidnapped
A spokesperson for Christiania Gas confirmed that these four crew members stayed on board and navigated the ship to a secure berth at a port in West Africa. One of the four sustained injuries during the attack and is being treated in a shoreside hospital.
The company said it is deeply concerned about the situation. The spokesperson added that Christiania Gas is working with international authorities and specialist advisers and, together with its partners, is providing support to the families of the affected seafarers during what it described as a very difficult time.
The firm has also stated that it does not intend to release further details at this stage, citing the need to protect the safety of the kidnapped crew. It has asked that this stance is respected.
