Two Koreans are unharmed and free after the 4,000-ton vessel they had been operating on, was boarded by pirates in the international waters about 200 nm to the south of Abidjan, West Africa’s Ivory Coast, per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
The ministry mentioned that those onboard the B Ocean, a tanker SK Shipping owned, reportedly went missing close to 7 am on Thursday.


Seventeen Indonesians were on the vessel with two Koreans, who were the ship’s captain and engineer.
The two contacted the shipping firm after being released at around 11:55 am on Friday, per the ministry.
The pirates stole the petroleum stored in the tanker and severely impaired the vessel.
Per officials, the vessel is headed back to the original departure point, Abidjan. Korea plans to request an ally nation to escort the vessel to Abidjan.
References: The Korea Times, Korea Joongang Daily