Maritime Flash Report - Abidjan inner anchorage, Ivory Coast

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Flash Report

Sunday 22 March 2026

Robbery - Abidjan inner anchorage, Ivory Coast

Dear Client,
Please find below our most recent Flash Report. If you have any queries about our reports please contact us at africaops@castorvali.com.

Incident Details

Incident Date & Time:

21 March 2026, 01:25 UTC

Location:

Abidjan inner anchorage, Ivory Coast

Latitude/Longitude:

5° 19' 39.00" N, 4° 1' 54.00" W

Vessel Type, Name, Flag, and Status:

A Vanuatu Vessel

Incident Type:

Robbery

Crew status

No injuries reported

Incident Details

Description

Four perpetrators armed with knives boarded a Vanuatu-flagged Supply Vessel while anchored at Abidjan inner anchorage, Ivory Coast. The officer of the watch raised the alarm upon detecting the intruders. The robbers escaped with a stolen Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) engine and paint cans. All crew members are reported safe.

Key findings

This incident demonstrates a well-coordinated robbery targeting specific high-value equipment rather than opportunistic theft. The perpetrators' focus on the FRC engine suggests knowledge of vessel equipment and its resale value, indicating possible insider information or surveillance of the vessel prior to the attack. The targeting of a supply vessel at inner anchorage suggests the perpetrators were familiar with anchorage patterns and vessel vulnerabilities in this location.

Recommendations

Maintain continuous deck watches during anchoring operations, especially during nighttime hours.
Secure high-value portable equipment in locked compartments when at anchor.
Install motion sensors and improved lighting around critical equipment storage areas.

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You have received this report as part of your organisation’s subscription. Castor Vali assessment and advice is given based on the information received and processed by us and the surrounding circumstances known to us to exist at the time. Subsequent changes to relevant information or the surrounding circumstances may affect the reliability of our assessment and advice, but we do not accept responsibility for that effect. We do not accept responsibility for the outcome of any action taken or not taken as a result of our assessment and advice unless the possibility of that action being taken or not taken is set out in specific terms in our instructions.

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