Amid a complex and dynamic maritime security situation in West Africa, a new publication provides Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy and Enhance Maritime Security off the Coast of West Africa (BMP- West Africa) including the Gulf of Guinea.
The Liberian-flagged container ship MV Lana became subject of a piracy attack while underway south of Bonny Island, Nigeria, in the Gulf of Guinea, according to Dryad Global. This is the first incident to occur within this specific area in 2020.
A Greek-flagged bulk carrier was attacked on March 25, off the Abgami Terminal. In addition, the same day another vessel reported being approached off Agbami as well, while a day later another ship reported the same.
Dryad Global Maritime Security reported a piracy incident in the Gulf of Guinea, where seven crew members have been kidnapped. The 2015-built, 957-teu MSC Talia F, that was carrying 17 seafarers, is believed to have been en-route from Lome, Togo to Port Libreville, Gabon at the time of the pirates’ boarding.
Dryad Global has been vocal about the impact of COVID-19 on the shipping sector and specifically on the security issues that already exist in the sector, also playing a negative role at global recession, logistical complexities, and geopolitical considerations.
According to Reuters, the US Department of State identified seven companies that has blacklisted, due to their involvement in Iranian petrochemincals’ transport, marketing and sale. In fact, three of the seven companies are Chinese-based, while another three are in Hong Kong and one in South Africa.
Stable Seas published a new report examining the maritime security and governance in the Bay of Bengal across nine issue areas including the blue economy, coastal welfare, rule of law, piracy and armed robbery, illicit trades, maritime mixed migration, fisheries, maritime enforcement capacity, and international cooperation.
During the 2020 SAFETY4SEA London Forum, Philip Diacon, Owner/ Director, Dryad Global, discussed key maritime security issues and illustrated the changing environment in the Indian Ocean 2011-2019.
Dryad Global express their concern about the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has on placing armed guards onboard vessels, noting that on a large volume of transits through the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Southern Red Sea, the embarkation of Armed Security is an unnecessary cost.
In its weekly report for 10–16 March, ReCAAP ISC informed of five incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia. Of these, four were actual incidents (all CAT 4 incidents) and one was an attempted incident.
