The reefer vessel Water Phoenix was approached and boarded by an unknown number of pirates on September 8, 2020. At the time, the vessel was en route to Lagos, Nigeria. It is not known how many crew members were on board, or if any sustained injuries or were kidnapped in the attack.
The Water Phoenix, a refrigerated cargo ship, was built in 1992, and is owned by Netherlands-based Seatrade Groningen BV. The ship is operated by Seatrade Reefer Chartering NV.
The waters south of Lagos have long been a hot spot of pirate activity. In 2020 alone, this is believed to be the third incident in the area. 93 seafarers have been kidnapped in 2020 in incidents off the West African Coast. On July 2, 2020, nine crewmembers were kidnapped from BW Offshore’s FPSO Sendje Berge. The nine Nigerian crewmembers only obtained their release in August.
It can be dangerous to work in any profession when safety considerations are not made. This is especially so when working on a vessel. Safe maritime companies must consider safe pirate precautions to ensure that their ships do not put the lives of their crew members at risk. The risks of catastrophic injury or kidnapping due to pirate activity is especially high in certain regions of the world that have historically had a problem ensuring the safety of vessels. When ship operators fail to account for the hazards posed by known pirate activity, catastrophic incidents can result.
Our attorneys have extensive experience in maritime personal injury and wrongful death litigation and the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured as a result of the negligence of another party. Spagnoletti Law Firm has lawyers admitted to practice in Texas, Florida and New York, and has handled maritime lawsuits throughout the country.
The experienced maritime attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of this tragic accident. There are strict and short time limits on making claims related to vessel accidents, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or to learn more about your rights.