According to the Luxembourg government, which sent a press release on Tuesday afternoon, the St Marseille was attacked by five armed pirates in the Bay of Cotonou in the Gulf of Guinea.

Two Beninese guards were shot and injured during the take-over. With no cargo on board, the pirates eventually fled of their own accord, the government said. The two wounded guards were hospitalised and were said to be in a stable condition. No Luxembourgers were on the ship and all remaining crew were unharmed.

The St Marseille belongs to ST Management SAS. According to government figures, there were 222 vessels recorded in the Luxembourg Maritime Register in September 2012. Meanwhile, around 330 maritime companies are based in the grand duchy.