Pirates strike again - and steal dead ship!
Pirates reported to have stolen a ship destined for the scrap yard

A ship, officially classed as a 'dead' ship has been stolen by pirates. The TAHOMA REEFER (ex FRIO CANADA, ex FROST PEGASUS, ex FROST OLYMPOS, ex FRIGO EUROPA) was docked in Monrovia after developing engine problems, the captain is reported to have said.

Pirates in two fishing vessels boarded the vessel on Saturday and threatened the crew and captain with machetes. They forced the crew off the vessel then towed the dead ship off in the direction of the Ivory Coast.

The ship was built in Spain in 1980 and in recent times was detained at a number of ports for dozens of deficiences. She was last reported as having been sold for scrap after suffering a fire in August of last year. She was then sold 'in western Africa' in what must have been a very poor condition and reportedly for scrapping in India.

Whilst at the port of Monrovia on 10th August 2006 the vessel had an engine room fire. Luckily at the port at the time was the USNS APACHE and they rescued the crew and put out the fire. (see US Navy photo).

What is unclear is why the ship was still in Monrovia, who bought her for scrap and why she was apparently waiting for engine repairs?

The following appears in Robin des Bois’s Ship-Breaking.com bulletin of November 2006:

Tahoma Reefer (ex-Frio Canada, ex-Frost Pegasus, ex-Frost Olympos, ex-Frigo Europa). Reefer. 102 m long, 3,000 t. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines flag. Built in 1980 in Seville (Spain) by Astilleros Espanoles SA. Proprietor el Trans (Estonia). Detained in 1998 inVlissingen (the Netherlands), in 1999 and 2001 in Villagarcia de Arosa (Spain), in 2004 in Antwerp (Belgium) for 48 deficiencies, and in 2005 in Tacahuano (Chile). Damaged by a fire in August 2006. Sold in present condition in western Africa for demolition to India. $283/ton