By JKNewsMedia
FIERCE LOOKING gunmen suspected to be pirates struck a cargo vessel deep in the Gulf of Guinea, targeting the MV ORAGE FROST while it navigated international waters roughly 75 nautical miles northwest of Santo Antonio Port, São Tomé and Príncipe.
Sailing under the Curaçao flag, the general cargo ship was en-route from Douala, Cameroon, to Matadi, Congo, when the incident occurred on Friday, 30 May 2025.
The coordinates of the assault—2°37’35”N, 6°46’47”E—place the vessel approximately 420 nautical miles southeast of Nigeria.
The MV ORAGE FROST, bearing IMO Number 9797656, had completed cargo operations and was underway when its crew sent a distress alert via the Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade – Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG).
On hearing the news, Nigerian authorities acted swiftly as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) coordinated a rapid regional response with the Nigerian Navy and allied maritime security partners to safeguard the crew and launch an immediate investigation.
Though no further details were released regarding the crew’s condition or the attackers’ identity, officials confirmed that all relevant agencies remain actively engaged.
The assault reveals persistent threats to maritime safety in the Gulf of Guinea, where pirate activity has challenged global shipping routes.
Despite extensive multinational efforts including NIMASA’s Deep Blue Project to fortify the region against such crimes, the agency notes that the incident demonstrates vulnerabilities still facing vessels navigating West African waters.
NIMASA also states that regional security collaboration remains a strategic priority, with Nigeria positioning itself at the heart of anti-piracy operations aimed at protecting seafarers and commercial interests along Africa’s critical Atlantic corridor.
