SAO TOME & PRINCIPE // ZHEN HUA 7 crew kidnapped 75NM NW of Sao Tomé – 13/11/2020

EVENT DESCRIPTION // On November 13^th, around 1500 UTC, approximately 75NM NW of Sao Tomé Island, 210NM SW of Bonny Island, the Liberian flagged Heavy-Lift (Semi-Submersible) ZHEN HUA 7 (IMO: 9166560) was boarded while adrift in the Sao Tomé & Principe EEZ. Authorities have been alerted and are responding from Nigeria and Sao Tomé.

On November 14^th, it was confirmed that 14 out of 27 crew members have been kidnapped. The 14 men appear to have been unable to make it into the citadel. Two Navy vessels have been tasked to provide assistance.

The vessel is operated by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (ZPMC)