Amid an alarming trend of continuous piracy attacks against ships in Gulf of Guinea, BIMCO revealed plans to develop a new standard contract for hiring the services of security escort vessels (SEV).
At present, there is no standard form of contract available to shipowners and PMSCs for hiring SEV services when operating in West Africa. As such, BIMCO believes that a standard SEV contract will assist in harmonising terms and conditions for hiring escort vessels, which will make it easier and faster for shipowners and PMSCs to put contracts in place to protect ships.
As explained, local laws, and sometimes just local enforcement practises, makes it difficult for shipowners to call ports in the region with “foreign” armed guards onboard their ships. Some countries in the area also prohibit local armed guards from boarding foreign commercial vessels.
Consequently, private maritime security companies (PMSC) have developed security escort vessel services in these areas in partnership with local navies to comply with local regulations and practises. Typically, the escort vessels must carry a team of local naval armed guards sometimes accompanied by a liaison officer from the PMSC.
BIMCO will invite representatives of PMSCs and shipowners operating in West Africa, together with P&I and legal experts, to assist in developing a standard SEV contract that fairly represents the interests of all stakeholders.
The project is due to begin during the second half of February/first half of March. Once a full draft has been developed, it will be shared with the industry as part of a consultation process inviting feedback.
I don´t know the relationship between BIMCO and European Navies, but today’s morning at SMM Hamburg (Panel I – Maritime Security) , the Guinea Gulf use referred, after Somalia EU forces move there and where last year there was no incidents. I think that EU navies should think to move quite fast to Guinea Gulf to protect the commercial fleet operating there.
Although Nigeria is the only naval force, in the region, we also know that it’s ineffective. The others are non existent!!!