E.FRANCIS

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Five crew members taken hostage, one armed guard killed in pirate incident off Brass

The "E. Francis" in position 003 57 20 N, 006 39 00 E, 32 miles southeast of Brass, was approached by pirates armed with machine guns in two speed boats on March 9, 2019, at 11.15 a.m. The captain immediately notified the naval escort security vessel which manoeuvred to engage the pirates. One speed boat closed in from the port side of the vessel and crossed the bow, while the other speed boat exchanged fire with the security vessel. The alarm was raised, the crew proceeded to the engine room and all power was shut down. The pirates boarded the vessel with the aid of an elongated ladder. They broke into the accommodation, vandalized the cabins and took crew belongings and vessel properties. The pirates then proceeded to the engine room, kidnapped five men and escaped. The remaining crew members sailed the "E. Francis" under escort to a safe Nigerian anchorage. One Nigerian Navy armed guard was reported killed in the exchange of fire between the naval security vessel and the pirates. Investigations on the incident were ongoing.