Korean Ship Held by Pirates off Gulf of Guinea Freed After One Day (Comprehensive)

Two South Korean Nationals Aboard Vessel Detained Off West Africa's Gulf of Guinea Released After One Day
"Pirates Disembarked, Shipping Company Contacted Captain; Vessel Damaged but Operable"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] A vessel carrying two South Korean nationals near the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa was briefly hijacked by pirates but has since been released.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters on the 25th, "According to Korean time, the vessel with two Koreans on board, which had lost contact around 7 a.m. on the 24th about 200 nautical miles south of C?te d'Ivoire, reestablished communication around 11:55 a.m. on the 25th, confirming the safety of the crew."

The vessel is a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker, with the captain and chief engineer being Korean nationals.

The official explained, "After the pirates disembarked, the captain contacted the shipping company. The ship was heavily damaged, but after several inspections, it was confirmed around 2 p.m. that it was operable."

For safety, the vessel is scheduled to return to its original departure port, Abidjan Port in C?te d'Ivoire, under the escort of allied forces.

Earlier, according to the maritime specialized media TradeWinds, an official report was received that the vessel's communication was cut off the previous morning.

The British and French navies, responsible for security in the Gulf of Guinea region, have declared a state of emergency, attributing the incident to pirates, and have urged vessels navigating the area to exercise caution.

The Gulf of Guinea is considered a high-risk area where pirate crimes are concentrated.