24 Nov 2009
The commander of Benin's naval forces says that a pirate attack on an oil tanker off the coast of the West African nation has left one Ukrainian seaman dead.

The vessel, Monrovia-flagged Cancale Star, came under attack some 18 nautical miles (33kilometers) off the coast of Benin earlier on Tuesday, with initial reports suggesting its captain had been killed.

However, naval commander Maxime Ahoyo identified the victim as "the chief mechanic, who is responsible for the engines”.

He said the victim was Ukrainian, adding that the Lithuanian captain was not hurt.

Ahoyo said the tanker's remaining 24 crew members were rescued by his forces.

The nationality of the pirates was not immediately known, but some reports suggested they were Nigerians.

The pirate attack, reportedly the first in Benin's recent history, bears testimony to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) figures showing a rise in piracy off West Africa, where 100 attacks were reported last year.