The Turkish product tanker Puli was attacked by pirates off Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The vessel was reached by highspeed boat with armed pirates in early morning. The armed men succeeded to board the tanker and take control. The crew was surprised by the piracy attack and failed to hide in the engine room. The pirates kidnapped six from the seamen, including Master, Second and Third Officers and Chief Engineer. the pirates damaged the communication and navigation equipment and abandoned the ship, heading in north direction. The rest of the crew on board of the product tanker Puli remained unharmed and reported about the accident. The vessel proceeded to Bonny area and headed to Nigerian coast, escorted by Nigerian navy.

The local authorities started investigation for the accident. Nigerian navy tried to follow the traces of the pirates high speed boat, but unfortunately filed. According to witness evidences, the pirates were heavy armed and well trained. The navy presume that the armed men might be ex Niger Delta militants. The nationality of the kidnapped seamen were not revealed. The investigation is underway and shipowner is trying to get in contact and arrange releasing of the hijacked crew.

The product tanker Puli (IMO: 9330434) has overall length of 148.00 m, moulded beam of 21.60 m and maximum draft of 9.50 m. The deadweight of the ship is 15,857 DWT and the gross tonnage is 10,544 GRT. The ship was built in 2007 by Cicek Shipyard Marine Industry in Istanbul Turkey. The owner and operator of product tanker Puli is Turkish company K Tankering and Shipmanagement.