A collaboration between three Mano River Union (MRU) neighbours, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire, led to the foiling of the attempt to seize a Chinese fishing vessel off the coast of Liberia this week.
The operation led by the Liberian Coast Guard, resulted in the rescuing of 23 crew members, comprising 17 Sierra Leoneans and six Chinese.
The vessel – F/V Shenghai-2 – was highjacked on Sierra Leonean waters before being taken into Liberia waters, where it was intercepted.
A statement from the Liberian National Defense Ministry said it received the alert from Sierra Leone’s Joint Maritimes Committee’s Operation Center located at Murray in the west end of Freetown, on July 23rd, prompting the Liberia Coast Guard Maritime Operation Center to engage fellow Mano River Union neighbour Cote d’Ivoire to help monitor the waters.
“On receipt of the information, the Liberia Coast Guard Maritime Operation Center immediately commenced continuous monitoring and coordination with Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire Navies to facilitate possible response,” it said, noting that after hours of monitoring and surveillance, the suspected vessel was spotted crossing over to Liberia from Sierra Leone.
The vessel was first spotted at a distance close to the Liberia- Sierra Leone International Maritime Borders. It was then pursued until it got to the general area of Monrovia about nine nautical miles offshore King Gray Community, Roberts Field Highway, the Liberian Defense Ministry said, noting that its Coast Guard did not immediately get physical contact with the vessel for tactical reasons, and only kept surveillance on it.
“Subsequently, Liberia Coast Guard Station Buchanan Response Team was activated to patrol to deter and apprehend pirates escaping to the Southeast,” it said.
The operation to liberate the crew took place within a space of 28 hours, between July 23 and 24, according to the statement, which added that the pirates engaged the personnel of the Liberia Coast Guard in firing before the vessel was forcefully boarded by the authorities.
The alleged attackers are estimated to be about eight in numbers.
Liberia authorities say three of them had locked themselves in the vessel’s compartment while another three fled abord a life raft.
Four pieces of weapons – a Winchester and three assault weapons – were reportedly recovered from the vessel which was later brought to harbor at the Liberian Coast Guard Base on Bushrod Island near Monrovia.
As of 25th July, when the Liberian Defence Ministry issued its statement, they were still in pursuit of the remaining attackers.
