Liberia Coast Guard to investigate abandoned tanker
MONROVIA, Liberia – Liberia’s Defence Ministry has dispatched Coast Guard personnel to investigate a tanker that washed ashore with no one onboard some 75 kilometres (47 miles) from Monrovia about a week ago.
Authorities are piecing information together and searching the maritime registry to try to determine the owner of the Tamaya 1, Defence Minister Brownie Samukai said late Tuesday.
“Elements of the ship were burned, particularly the communication area,” Samukai said.
Assistant Defence Minister David Dahn told The Associated Press that Coast Guard personnel sent to the area had entered the vessel.
“As clearly as we can see, the ship was in distress,” Dahn said, adding that no passengers were on board. He said the ship is believed to be an oil tanker and flew a Nigerian flag.
He said one of the ship’s two lifeboats was still onboard, meaning the other may have been used by the crew.
Liberia’s 563-kilometre (350-mile) Atlantic Ocean coastline is largely under-patrolled.
News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Join the Conversation!
Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
