VIOLENT STOWAWAYS ARRESTED

Was the vessel in Nigeria? Which of the Ports did she visit and why?

Seven stowaways have been detained after the Special Boat Service stormed a Liberian registered tanker off the Isle of Wight which they are suspected of attempting to hijack.

The Vessel

The special forces responded to a request for help from Hampshire police in the early evening on Sunday, gaining control of the Nave Andromeda vessel in nine minutes after it was feared that the crew was no longer fully in charge.

“Armed forces have gained control of the ship and seven individuals have been detained. Police investigations will now continue. Initial reports confirm the crew are safe and well,” the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement.

The 228-metre tanker had been expected to dock in Southampton on Sunday to pick up a cargo of petrol, but its course in the Channel became erratic, prompting calls for an intervention as it passed the south-east edge of the Isle of Wight.

The SBS, based in nearby Poole, Dorset, used two Navy Merlin and two Navy Wildcat helicopters to take control of the tanker, which had sailed to the UK from Nigeria. Typically 16 people fast-roping down from the helicopters would be used to take control of a ship.

According to reports “The vessel had been travelling in the direction of Southampton, having sailed from Lagos in Nigeria. It was reported that a number of stowaways were on board, and they had made threats towards the crew.

“Following a multi-agency response by police, with support from the military and other emergency service partners, seven people were detained by police.”

The vessel left Lagos on 6 October and it is believed that seven stowaways had boarded in Nigeria. Their presence had been discovered, but they became violent when the crew attempted to lock them in a cabin.

Which of the Nigeria ports did the vessel sail from and what was her mission to Nigeria? We await official response from Nigerian authorities as at the time of writing this report.