Shipowners are facing a heightened piracy threat off West Africa following three failed attacks on tankers in the last three weeks. Security consultancy Ambrey said the risk of kidnappings for ransom is growing in the Gulf of Guinea.

Ambrey has published intelligence suggesting two active criminal syndicates are operating in the Bight of Benin, as well as the south and southwest of Bayelsa state in Nigeria. The most recent attack was reported on the 10,000-dwt product tanker NEFELI II (built 2003), 92 nautical miles (170 km) south of Bayelsa on 4 November. Ambrey said crew mustered in the citadel while the pirates boarded, stole property and damaged some equipment. Security consultancy Dryad Global said the crew comprised Russian, Georgian and Ukrainian personnel. But a spokesman for the manager told TradeWinds that no attack took place and the incident was believed to be a mistaken activation of the ship security alert system (SSAS) alarm.