The M/T Gascogne had offloaded some of the diesel fuel in its hold before the attack Sunday off the coast of Abidjan, according to a statement by Ivory Coast's Transportation Ministry. Pirates overpowered the crew of the vessel, which included seven sailors from Togo, four from Benin, two from Ivory Coast, two from Senegal and one apiece from China and South Korea, the ministry said.
SEA Tankers, a shipping firm based in Merignac, France, that owns the M/T Gascogne, issued a statement Monday confirming the ship had gone missing. The company had been working for a South Korean firm at the time of the attack, according to the Transportation Ministry.