The Gulf of Guinea is one of the regions that has the most issues with piracy. In order to address these problems, a workshop for participants from the Gulf of Guinea, was held in Ghana, from 13 to 16 November. The workshop aims to improve national capacity to advance port security.
Maritime security needs the capacity of national authorities to develop security plans and procedures, as well as the ability to self-audit.
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The training focused on how to create multi-agency port and port facility security and facilitation committees with specific terms of reference. It also gave emphasis on drafting port facility security assessments and plans.
Moreover, a key area included technical expertise on ships and port facilities security, maritime situational awareness, the conduct of harmonized maritime security control and compliance, information sharing, mutual support, contingency planning, joint operations and response based on existing infrastructure.
In addition, lectures addressed piracy, armed robbery and other illicit maritime activities. Key instruments covered included the following:
- IMO maritime security measures in SOLAS Chapter XI-2;
- ISPS Code;
- ILO/IMO Code of practice on security in ports.
Participants also visited the port of Tema, to see how such measures can be implemented.