Attempted hijacking of oil tanker reported off Isle of Wight

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/25/attempted-hijacking-of-oil-tanker-reported-off-isle-of-wight



‘Ongoing incident’ reported to have taken place onboard vessel south of Sandown

Sun 25 Oct 2020 11.08 EDT

Police have confirmed an incident onboard a vessel off the Isle of Wight, following reports of an attempted hijacking of an oil tanker.

The incident is reported to have taken place onboard the Liberian-registered Nave Andromeda crude oil tanker south of Sandown, according to Isle of Wight Radio.

A Hampshire police spokesman said: “We are aware and dealing with an ongoing incident onboard a vessel which is situated south of the Isle of Wight.

“We will provide you with further updates when we are in a position to do so.”

-/snip-

In the English Channel??

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Hijacking or mutiny?

If the ship is in British waters, are the actors Liberian or British? Are we talking pirates or a bunch of mutineers on the ship?

[Newest Reality]

2. What do they plan to do with it?

Hide it and sell the oil?

I am just being facetious, but what is going on there?

[dware]

3. They could create a hell of an environmental disaster in the English Channel. nt

[Newest Reality]

4. Oh. I see.

[RainCaster]

5. Recent photos & description show an empty vessel

Oddly enough, even the ballast tanks appear empty.
That should lower the environmental concerns. There is still so much more to be said about this.

[Doodley]

6. This was once my part of the world.

[FelineOverlord]

7. Attempted hijacking of oil tanker reported off Isle of Wight

Link to tweet

[Dennis Donovan]

8. Good! Because... well, we can't have this arrgh matey shit happening

Right, Cap'n Jack?

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Turns out 'hijack' was a bit of an exaggeration - 7 stowaways threatened the crew

Hampshire police said all 22 crew members of the Nave Andromeda were safe and well and officers were now investigating the incident. The force said: “At 10.04am today concerns were raised to police for the welfare of crew on board the vessel, which was situated approximately six miles off the coast of Bembridge.

“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. Lloyd’s List, the shipping newspaper, said it believed 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.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/25/attempted-hijacking-of-oil-tanker-reported-off-isle-of-wight