Greek authorities claimed that an oil tanker came under armed attack off the west coast of Africa earlier this week.

The Ukrainian Master and Greek first engineer of the 6,500 dwt Marshall Islands flagged product tanker ˜Althea' were kidnapped. The Greek Merchant Ministry said Tuesday about 10 armed men boarded the tanker about 35 nautical miles south of Nigeria.

Medtankers, the vessel's shipmanagement concern, said 18 officers and crew were on board, all Ukrainian apart from the first engineer. They were robbed of personal items but none were hurt in the overnight attack and the ship's oil cargo was untouched.The Ukrainian Master and Greek first engineer of the 6,500 dwt Marshall Islands flagged product tanker ˜Althea' were kidnapped.

The Greek Merchant Ministry said Tuesday about 10 armed men boarded the tanker about 35 nautical miles south of Nigeria. Medtankers, the vessel's shipmanagement concern, said 18 officers and crew were on board, all Ukrainian apart from the first engineer.

They were robbed of personal items but none were hurt in the overnight attack and the ship's oil cargo was untouched. (Source: Tanker Operator)