Armed Men Attack Greek-Owned Container Ship Off Portugal

A Greek-owned container ship sailing off Portugal’s Algarve coast was attacked by armed men late Wednesday night. Two crew members were reportedly locked inside the engine room before being freed.

The ship involved is the Odysseus, a Liberian-flagged vessel managed by Cosmoship of Greece. Built in 2006, the 39,420 dwt ship has a carrying capacity of 2,824 TEU. At the time of the incident, it had departed from Vigo, Spain, and was heading toward Málaga, Spain.

The ordeal began around 11 p.m. local time on September 3 when the captain of the Odysseus sent out a distress alert reporting intruders on board. The incident took place while the vessel was sailing in open waters near Lagos, off Portugal’s southern coast.

Portuguese media reported that at least two hooded men armed with weapons were spotted on the ship. They allegedly locked two crew members inside the engine room. Unconfirmed reports said the seafarers were held hostage until the Navy intervened.

In response, the Portuguese Navy deployed several units, including patrol boats and a helicopter carrying a special boarding team prepared to retake control of the vessel. Rescue boats were also placed on standby in case of injuries.

The Odysseus was diverted closer to shore, about six nautical miles (roughly 10 kilometers) off Lagos, where Portuguese Navy and National Maritime Authority teams boarded the ship.

Local tabloid Correio da Manhã reported that the two crew members were eventually released. However, a full search of the containership did not find the suspected attackers. Authorities believe the armed men may have escaped before the naval teams reached the vessel.

The Navy later confirmed that the ship had been secured and was being diverted to the port of Sines for a detailed inspection. Criminal police (PJ) teams have joined the operation to search the vessel and collect evidence.

Reference: Portuguese Navy

Source: Maritime Shipping News