In Africa, an oil tanker with a Georgian-Russian crew was lost

Off the coast of West Africa, the fifth day continues the search for the missing oil tanker Pantelena IMO 9321469 with the Georgian-Russian crew. This is reported by Interfax-Ukraine.

According to the deputy director of the consular department of the Georgian Foreign Ministry Vladimir Konstantinidi, the search operation is being intensively continued in the Gulf of Guinea. On board the tanker were 17 citizens of Georgia and two Russian citizens.

"So far we have not received any information about the whereabouts of the ship and the reasons for its loss." None of the versions is excluded, including the version of the pirate attack, "Konstantinidi said. 

According to him, unauthorized detention could also occur, as the tanker was carrying diesel fuel.

"The topic related to the transportation of goods of this type is quite sensitive for this region," he said.

The Georgian Maritime Transport Agency under the Ministry of Economy of Georgia tries to find out any circumstances. The country's authorities are cooperating with the Panamanian organization - the direct owner of the tanker, as well as the Lotus Shipping hired by the Greek company.

According to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the naval forces of the region and the UKMTO Safety Center for Commercial Navigation of the UK are connected to the search for a tanker.

It is known that as early as August 14 the ship was in Gabon (West Africa) 31 kilometers from the port of Libreville, the connection with it was interrupted after 02.00.

"We, representatives of Lotus Shipping, are working hard to do everything to clarify the situation, since the safety of the crew on board is the main priority for us," the statement says.

At the same time, the company asks representatives of the media to take into account the condition of family members of tankers on the tanker and in this difficult period not to disseminate information concerning the names and surnames of seafarers.

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