Six of the 16-strong crew of the Liberian-flag bunker tanker Monjasa Reformer were kidnapped and held hostage for five weeks after the ship was boarded by pirates on 25 March, about 140 nautical miles West of Port Pointe-Noire, Democratic Republic of Congo. The vessel went missing for six days before being located by the French Navy, when it was discovered that the men were missing. The ship’s owner, Danish-based Monjasa announced in early May that they had been freed.

Monjasa CEO Anders Ostergaard said in a statement: “All recovered crew members are in relatively good health condition given the difficult circumstances they have been under in the last more than five weeks. They have all been receiving medical checks and are now being repatriated to their home countries to reunite with their families,”.

On 10 April, a second tanker, the Singapore-flag Success 9, was boarded by unidentified persons at about 300 nautical miles off the Abidjan Coast, Cote d’lvoire. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reported that there were 20 crew of various nationalities onboard the vessel, including a Singapore citizen. It was subsequently reported that all her crew, including the Singaporean, were safe and in good health and that the ship had arrived safely at Abidjan.

These latest incidents occurred just as the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) had recorded the lowest level of reported global piracy and armed robbery incidents since 1993 in its first quarter piracy and armed robbery report for 2023.  But, presciently, the report calls for “continued vigilance and naval response”.

According to IMB, 27 incidents were reported in the first quarter of the year, representing a marked decline from 37 incidents for the same period in 2022. The anti-maritime crime agency noted that, of the 27 incidents, perpetrators boarded the victims’ vessels in 24 cases, two vessels reported attempted incidents and one vessel was hijacked. Despite the drop in numbers, the threat of violence remains. It says that six crew (from the Monjasa Reformer) had been kidnapped, two others were known to have been taken hostage, two threatened and one assaulted.

Despite the latest incidents, the trend still appears to be that piracy and armed robbery is decreasing in the Gulf of Guinea, an area the IMB describes as having become “a relative hotbed for this crime in recent history”. Just five incidents were reported in Q1 2023 compared to eight in 2022 and 16 in 2021.

KPI launches training programme

Danish-based KPI OceanConnect has launched a two-year trader trainee programme designed to “cultivate and empower school and college graduates for a career in marine fuel trading”.

The programme will provide new hires with an immersive learning experience, including comprehensive training in marine fuel trading, supply and logistics, and the opportunity to work with industry-leading experts. Trainees will have the opportunity to travel and participate in team building activities with the purpose of creating and nurturing relationships with global colleagues. In addition, trainees will also have the chance to relocate to one of KPI OceanConnect’s 16 offices worldwide, where they can learn about different cultures, establish their own network, and work with colleagues from various backgrounds.

Additionally, the programme will include courses at the Danish Maritime Academy in Copenhagen from September 2023, leading to a foundation degree in shipping and the official qualification of Bunker Trader.

KPI OceanConnect’s managing director and creator of the programme, Patrick Hoe, commented: “We are excited to launch our new trainee programme “get fuelled” to provide young talent with the opportunity to embark on a career in the dynamic and fast-paced world of marine fuel trading. This programme is a testament to KPI OceanConnect’s commitment to investing in the next generation of young professionals and supporting the development of innovative and sustainable solutions for the shipping industry.”

Singapore bunker firm loses licence

In a Port Marine Circular, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has announced that it will not be renewing the bunker craft operator licence of New Maritime Pte Ltd, which expires on 16 June 2023.

While the circular gives no reason for MPA’s action, it does say that the “MPA has zero-tolerance for any type of fraud, corruption or bunkering malpractice”. The circular reminds all bunker licence holders (including bunker suppliers and bunker craft operators) to comply strictly with all the terms and conditions of the respective bunker licence(s).

It warns: “MPA will not hesitate to take firm action against any bunker supplier or bunker craft operator that contravenes any of its bunker licence terms and conditions, including taking into account such contraventions in considering whether to renew the bunker licence(s), suspending or cancelling the bunker licence(s), and/or taking enforcement action against such bunker licensee.”