Pirates abandon ship in Gulf of Guinea, take crew

The owners of a Danish ship that was seized by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea last Saturday say the hijackers have now abandoned the vessel, taking some of the 16 crew members with them.

Others have been rescued from the Monjasa Reformer, which sails under a Liberian flag.

The owners said on Tuesday that the crew had taken refuge in the tanker’s secure room when the five pirates boarded.

Those rescued are reported to be in good health and there has been no damage to the vessel or its cargo.

The vessel was seized west of Porte Pointe-Noire in the Republic of Congo and located by the French navy off Sao Tome and Principe.