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: 8th February 2012 Type: Hijacking Voyage: Egypt to Thailand
Reports have been received that Liberian flag vessel FREE GODDESS (13,695gt built 1995) was attacked by Somali pirates yesterday. We understand the vessel has been hijacked.
The bulker, with 21 crew on board, was on a voyage from Adabiya to Ko Sichang. She has a cargo of steel on board.
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.
