By Joseph Tumbey 

The Armed Forces of Liberia through the Liberian Coast Guard have seized  a  hijacked vessel;   F/V Shenghai 2,  with twenty-three crew members onboard.

According to the Ministry Tuesday July 25, 2023  press conference,  following a piracy alert reported by the Sierra Leone Navy, the operation was carefully coordinated by Headquarters Armed Forces of Liberia executed by the Liberian Coast Guard lasted for about twenty-eight hours on the water and subsequently continued after the seized vessel was brought to harbor at the Liberian Coast Guard Base on Bushrod Island. 

“Headquarters Armed Forces of Liberia was alerted on 23 July 2023, at about O800hrs through a signal message from the Sierra Leone Navy Joint Maritime Operation Center about an incident of piracy in the Sterra Leonean Water. The message indicated that “2 fishing vessels F/V Aliman and F/V Shenghai-2 were attacked by pirates/robbers at a specified position O80 22° N, 0130 32° W off the shore of Sierra Leone on 22 July 23. The pirates had hijacked and taken away one of the fishing vessels F V Shenghai-2,” the Ministry noted. 

The Ministry explained that on receipt of the information, the Liberia Coast Guard Mantime Operation Center immediately commence continuous monitoring and coordination with Sierra Leone and 

Cote d’Ivoire Navies to facilitate possible response.

They further  noted,

“Preliminarly, the following are accounted for: Rescued Crew Members-23 (6 Chinese and 17 Sierra Leonean Nationals). 

b. Pirates Apprehended during the operation as last night: 2 c. Weapons Captured. 4 pieces (one Winchester, reportedly 3 assault weapons). d. Hijacked Vessel. F/V Shenghai 2.”