Offshore staff
LONDON – Armed individuals have boarded the Mexican flagged offshore supply vessel Natalie, according to intelligence service Dryad Global.
The vessel was operating close to the Odin offshore platform, 12 nm northeast of Coatzacoalcos.
Reports suggest the incident took place during early morning darkness and that the crew were robbed of personal belongings.
This year there has been a significant increase in maritime crime and piracy offshore the Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz states, Dryad Global said, with armed groups targeting commercial vessels, platforms and offshore supply vessels in the Bay of Campeche area.
The US Maritime Administration recently issued an advisory, 2020-008-Southern Gulf of Mexico-Vessel Attacks, detailing these incidents and the actions that should be taken should incidents occur in the region.
Reports suggest that since January 2018, 35 platforms and offshore supply vessels have been targeted in the Bay of Campeche area, and that incidents not involving attacks against large commercial vessels may have been under-reported.
Attacks to date have involved the discharge of firearms, injuries to crews, hostage taking, and theft.
07/28/2020
