If you have insured cargo on board the following vessels and would like us to assist you in pursuing any claims arising from these incidents (or any similar cases), or if you require assistance in providing GA or salvage guarantees, please contact us as soon as possible.
Date: 10th December 2010 Type: Hijacking Voyage: Between East African Ports
Reports have been received that Liberian flag vessel MSC PANAMA (18000gt built 1989) was hijacked by Somali pirates yesterday.
The containership, en route from Tanzania to Mozambique, was attacked by two skiffs when about 80 miles from the coast.
This attack took place somewhat further south than most piracy incidents in the Indian Ocean. The vessel has a crew of 23 Burmese on board.
MSC PANAMA operates between ports in South East Africa but she is likely to be carrying transhipment cargo for various destinations.
It is likely that a ransom demand will be made by the pirates quite shortly. Shipowners commonly claim a proportion of any ransom payment from cargo owners as a general average contribution.
Because ransom payments can often lead to a very large claim on cargo insurers, it is important that the full circumstances of the hijacking are investigated.
We have acted for cargo insurers in respect of piracy incidents in the past and have often been able to negotiate reductions in general average payments requested from cargo insurers.
