On the evening of 17 March, MDAT-GoG issued a warning stating that a vessel, later identified as the Panama-flagged Bitumen tanker BITU RIVER, was boarded by up to 5 armed pirates 100nm west of Puerto Iradier, Equatorial Guinea. The report says shots were fired but no injuries have been reported. At 0719UTC the CSO reported that the pirates had left the vessel, which is now heading to Libreville, Gabon, to seek refuge. There is no indication if any hostages have been taken or crew members injured.