Capt. Daley s Sea Stories M/V Bourbon Sagitta Cameroon, Africa Master, Gubert Tide 21 December 2009 Belford Dolphin Drillship
DSCF1517. JPG (above) My second officer, Ramilo, gave me these pictures. I was not involved in this incident. The boat is the Bourbon Sagitta, not unlike the size of the Gubert Tide. The chart on the chart table indicates they were working for Total Cameroon, near Douala. My Chief Engineer, Emil, and second officer, Roger, were on Tidewater boats near the Sagitta. These comments are their recollections of what occurred.
DSCF1518.JPG (above) This is the GMDSS Radio station on the Sagitta. There was broken glass and bullets flying around the bridge. Nigerian pirates boarded the Sagitta and captured the crew. They took the crew off the vessel and held them for ransom, which Bourbon Offshore subsequently paid. Crew members from a Tidewater vessel boarded the Sagitta and kept her from damaging other vessels or running aground while Bourbon Offshore arranged for a replacement crew. These photos were taken by the Tidewater crew that boarded the Sagitta after the pirates left.
DSCF1520.JPG (above) The pirates shot out this bridge window. The doors and hatches to the bridge were all closed and locked. However, the pirates easily gained access by shooting out several of the bridge windows.
DSCF1522.JPG (above) It would appear from the blood on the floor that someone was injured. The injury could have resulted from flying glass or bullets or something else. We don t know.
DSCF1523.JPG (above) This is another view of the GMDSS radio station. I like the dark wood finish Bourbon uses on their bridges. It is hard to comprehend how something so sophisticated and expensive can be captured and ransomed by a band of armed pirates in today s modern world.
DSCF1524.JPG (above) The drawing on the chart table indicates that this is a platform installation chart of the Rio Del Rey area offshore Cameroon. The title block says Total Cameroon, Total being the French nationalized oil company (operating in Cameroon). Notice the blood on the chart.
DSCF1525.JPG (above) The scope of the work had to do with the tanker photographed through the shot out window. The work had been assigned to Tidewater, but was re-assigned to Bourbon. This could have easily happened to one of the Tidewater vessels. Notice that the lower wooden edge has been broken as well. One could assume that this occurred from someone entering or attempting to enter through the broken window. Of course, it is all speculation.
DSCF1526.JPG (above) I m sure no one went on watch expecting to be abducted from their boat having it shot up like this. But it did happen.
DSCF1527.JPG (above) Here is another bridge window that took a hit, but did not blow out. I wonder if they use a special glass for this. The controls look a lot like the controls of the Gubert Tide. The Gubert Tide was originally a Bourbon boat. At some point during the design or construction, Tidewater purchased it from Bourbon. The final finish of the Gubert Tide is not the same quality as the Bourbon Sagitta.
DSCF1529.JPG (above) This is one of the Tidewater officers who helped operate the boat until Bourbon sent a replacement crew. I m not sure what was going through his mind, but it appears to be a very sobering experience.
DSCF1533.JPG (above) The flag is the flag of Cameroon. This was the patrol boat assigned to the area. It has a 50mm gun aboard. The boat did not stop the hijacking. They were on a different location and by the time they arrived, it was all over.
DSCF1534.JPG (above) This is a bullet hole in the ceiling of the bridge.
DSCF1535.JPG (above) This is another bullet hole in the ceiling.
DSCF1536.JPG (above) Here is another ceiling bullet hole. No one I ve spoken to knows how the pirates captured the bridge and crew. We just know they were successful.
DSCF1541.JPG (above) One can t help but imagine how vulnerable these guys are in a fiberglass boat. The 50 mm gun would seem to be effective, but mount it on a fiberglass boat??? Sure it has good speed, but so do metal catamarans. They can take more action without being sunk.