Seafarers kidnapped from LPG carrier in Gulf of Guinea
The Portugal-flagged LPG carrier CGas Saturn was attacked by pirates off Equatorial Guinea, with at least nine crew members reportedly kidnapped, according to Splash 247. Some early reports suggested up to 12 kidnapped seafarers, but this figure has not been confirmed by the operator. The vessel was sailing toward Malabo when armed men boarded it. Four crew remained onboard, and one is believed to be injured.
Built in 2003 and owned by Christiania Gas, the tanker has a freeboard of about 2.3 m, which keeps ships in this region exposed to organised pirate groups. The Gulf of Guinea continues to record crew abductions on LPG and cargo ships, with past cases involving Nave Constellation, Davide B, Monjasa Reformer, Hana I, and Bitu River. Safety reports indicate that several incidents in recent years also involved smaller coastal vessels that did not make major media coverage.
Maritime patrols and regional cooperation have reduced overall attack frequency, but the situation remains tense. From January to September 2025, the region saw 15 maritime security incidents: 10 armed robberies in territorial waters and five acts of piracy. Fourteen seafarers were kidnapped during the same period.
