Nine seafarers have been abducted and one crewmember injured after armed pirates boarded the LPG carrier CGAS Saturn in the Gulf of Guinea, approximately 50 nautical miles west of Mbini, Equatorial Guinea. The vessel was en route to Malabo when the attack took place.
Maritime security companies reported that an unidentified group of pirates boarded the Portugal-flagged tanker, rounded up the crew, and stole personal belongings before fleeing nine of the vessel’s crew members.
Four others, the second captain, third captain, a deck officer, and an oiler, were left onboard. One of them sustained light injuries and received medical treatment on the vessel.
Initial reports suggested that up to 12 crew members may have been taken, but updated information confirmed the number as nine. The 2003-built CGAS Saturn, owned and operated by Christiania Gas, has since moved to safer waters.
According to security sources, a Portuguese Navy patrol boat was tasked with heading towards the vessel following the incident.
Christiania Gas issued a statement confirming the kidnapping and the condition of the remaining crew. The company said it was deeply concerned about the attack and added that its priority was to establish contact with the missing seafarers and ensure their safe and early release. It also reported that its emergency response team had been activated and was coordinating with all relevant authorities.
The company is maintaining communication with the families of the affected crew members. It added that no additional details would be released at present to avoid endangering those involved.
The attack on CGAS Saturn comes at a time when maritime security incidents in the region are increasing. Data from the ICC International Maritime Bureau shows that 15 incidents were reported in the Gulf of Guinea between January and September 2025, up from 12 incidents in the same period in 2024. Out of these, 10 happened in territorial waters and were classified as armed robbery, while five were defined as piracy.
Security organisations also said that at least 17 armed robbery or piracy cases have been reported in the Gulf of Guinea over the past year, raising concerns about the continued threat of kidnap-for-ransom targeting commercial ships.
There have also been recent attacks off Somalia, including the boarding of a Greek-owned tanker, showing that risks to vessels are growing in multiple regions.
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