Singapore's Eastern Pacific Shipping has accused private Cameroonian forces and a local charterer of illegally seizing a tanker during discharging operations.

The Idan Ofer-controlled shipowner said it condemned the act of "unprovoked aggression" involving its managed 106,000-dwt Barents Sea (built 2000) by charterer DSC Marine and non-government militia personnel.

"Eastern Pacific Shipping confirms that while performing standard discharge operations, its managed aframax Barents Sea has been illegally seized by DSC Marine, a local charterer, and local Cameroonian military forces armed with AK-47 submachine guns in the Sonara refinery in Limbe.