As TradeWinds reported yesterday the owner’s 37,800-dwt Cotton (built 2007) was less than 20 nautical miles north of Port Gentil when it was taken. 

In a statement Geden explains pirates boarded the vessel just before 5:00 am local time on Sunday close to the port where it was set to load.

“It is unusual for attacks to occur in this region and, in fact, there have been no reported attacks within the last five years,” Geden said.

“The