A dramatic incident was reported on board a Liberian flagged-cargo ship yesterday while sailing off Sesimbra, Portugal after one of its crew members turned against his crew, threatening to set the ship on fire.
Portuguese Navy informed that its special forces boarded the ship following acts of violence of a Turkish crew member against the all Turkish crew, who together with the ship’s officers took refuge on the ship’s bridge from where they sent a distress signal.
As informed, the seafarer had already attacked one of his mates and threatened to kill the rest of the crew.
The naval command was informed of the mutiny on board on Wednesday morning while the ship was some 52 nautical miles southwest of Setúbal.
The navy dispatched its corvette NRP António Enes to the scene, and despite the threats of the crew member that went rogue to set the ship’s cargo of wood pulp on fire, took control of the ship at 15:00 and arrested the man.
Following the rescue operation the vessel headed for the port of Ceuta, where the ship was initially headed.
The 4,757 dwt ship, built in 2011 and previously known as Rene A, is owned by Turkey’s Vento Deniz Isletmeleri.
World Maritime News Staff