Privateers may have seized missing oil tanker in Gulf of Guinea

An Indian-claimed oil tanker that vanished Thursday off the shoreline of the West African nation of Benin may have been seized by privateers, and authorities Sunday argued for help finding the vessel.

India's External Affairs serve Suchma Swaraj affirmed late Sunday the tanker, Marine Express, vanished in the Gulf of Guinea with 22 Indian group individuals on board.

"Vendor Ship Marine Express with 22 Indian nationals is absent off the Coast of Benin in the Gulf of Guinea," Swaraj composed on Twitter. "We are endeavoring hard and fast endeavors in a joint effort with Nigerian and Benin maritime experts to follow the missing boat."

On Monrday, Swaraj composed she has addressed the outside pastor of Nigeria, who has " guaranteed all assistance and help with finding the missing boat."

It is misty whether the ship was captured for recover, or to take the almost 15,000 tons of gas on board.

The ship, claimed by a Mumbai organization, has been absent since Feb. 1 and no contact has been made with the team up until now, as indicated by Indian media reports.

The ship's Mumbai-based keeping an eye on operator, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, affirmed on Twitter it had lost contact with the vessel.

"We lament that contact has been lost with the AE-oversaw MT Marine Express while at Cotonou, Benin. Last contact was at 03:30 UTC, Feb 1," the organization said. "Experts have been alarmed and are reacting. Our best need is the wellbeing of the group, whose families have been reached."

As per following information, the last contact with the vessel was while it was tied down at Cotonou, Sky News detailed.

In January, another oil tanker, MT Barret, disappeared off Benin. That team of 22, for the most part Indians, was discharged inside days after a payoff was paid to the privateers who commandeered the tanker, the Press Trust of India news office said.

Ship hijackings and kidnappings of group are regular in the area, with prisoners frequently discharged unharmed after a payment is paid. Highwaymen for the most part target oil tankers and offer the rough.

Global endeavors have cut down the danger of theft off Somalia's drift as of late. Worries about robbery off Africa's drift have now generally moved to the Gulf of Guinea.