Pirates hijack Italian ship off Nigeria
Three Italians taken hostage along with another crewmember
24 December, 16:55
Contacted by ANSA, the ministry said the ship was the Mv Asso Ventuno, owned by Naples-based Augusta Offshore. The pirates hijacked the tug on Sunday about 40 nautical miles off the Bayelsa coast.
Hijackings of ships are frequent in Nigerian waters but unlike Somali pirates who always hold crews for ransom, their Nigerian counterparts are usually more interested in the cargo. According to the International Maritime Bureau, no crew member was harmed while the ship was steered ashore without being damaged.
The Nigerian navy said a search for the four crewmembers had started immediately.
Last year Nigeria and neighbouring Benin began joint naval patrols in an effort to combat the threat of pirates.