Two dredge crew members kidnaped in Cameroon harbor

GAC Protective Solutions reports that maritime security alert has been issued for Cameroon following the reported kidnap of two foreign nationals from a vessel in Douala harbour on September 12.

The Filipino and Croat crew members were taken by armed men from the Belgian-owned and Luxemburg-flagged trailing suction hopper dredge Amerigo Vespucci. They are likely to be held on land until a ransom is paid.

The dredge's owner, the Jan De Nul Group, says the two were seized despite actions by the captain, two crew members were kidnapped by the attackers. It says it is doing everything to assure the safety of the crew.

Two other vessels were also attacked by the armed assailants, and crew members had money and belongings stolen.

Cameroon's waters have become more of a hotspot for pirate activity over the past year, notes GAC Protective Solutions, which is part of the GAC Group.

The wider Gulf of Guinea has so far accounted for 8.6 percent of worldwide pirate activity this year.