Horror as 12 'kidnapped' in pirate attack that 'injures one'

An LPG carrier has been attacked by pirates off Equatorial Guinea, it has been claimed (Image: Wolgrang Berthel / Marine Traffic)

A tanker has been boarded by pirates, who kidnapped at least 12 seafarers, it has been claimed. The Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade Gulf of Guinea said the crew members kidnapped after the Portugal-flagged LPG tanker CGAS Saturn was attacked off the coast of Equatorial Guinea.

It warns of "an unknown number of perpetrators" who left one person injured. Authoroties are now investigating the incident. The CGAS Saturn was boarded around 50 nautical miles west of Mbini on Monday morning, secuirity firm Vanguard said. 

The Gulf of Guinea has seen many incidents of piracy. (Image: Getty)

The gas tanker was travelling towards Malabo, the capital of Euatorial Guinea, when the pirates attacked. They left four people onboard, Vanguard added.

Despite the deck being roughly 2.3m above water, this still leaves the CGAS Saturn vulnerable to the pirates that operate in the area. 

In the first nine months of this year alone, 14 crew members were kidnapped in the Gulf of Guinea.

Fifteen maritime security incidents were recorded - an increase from 12 in the same period in 2024.

Ten of these happened in territorial waters, making them armed robbery, and the remaining five were categorised as piracy.

Over the past decade, tankers and general cargo ships have been the target of repeated crew abductions, involving such vessels as Nave Constellation, Davide B, Monjasa Reformer, Hana I, and Bitu River.

This is despite efforts by international naval patrols and coastal cooperation.