Port of Cotonou issues new armed guard requirements

Following increased piracy incidents in Africa, the port of Cotonou announced new arrival procedures and measures to protect the shipping industry, providing ten measures against acts of piracy so that the crewmembers onboard and the vessel are fully protected.

Specifically, the port issued ten measures:

1. Any vessel calling at the port of Cotonou or staying at the anchorage must appoint a maritime agent.
2. The maritime agent must inform of a vessel’s call at least 48 hours prior to arrival.
3. If the maritime agent has not completed the berthing formalities prior to arrival at the anchorage, the vessel will not be authorised to proceed to the anchorage, except in cases of force majeure and express authorisation of the harbourmaster.
4. At least two hours before arriving at the approach buoy, the vessel must contact the control tower at the harbourmaster’s office and provide information regarding the vessel’s call, in particular the name of maritime agent and the reason for call (commercial operations, etc.).
5. If the berth is occupied:
   a) the harbourmaster will, depending on availability, allocate a lay-by berth for the vessel, where the vessel must berth otherwise it will not be authorised to proceed to the anchorage.
   b) if a lay-by berth is not available, the Cotonou Signal Station will assign an anchorage position to the ship and an armed guard will board the vessel.
6. The boarding of the naval armed guard is compulsory and is free of charge for any vessel staying at the anchorage.
7. If the master refuses the boarding of the armed guard, the vessel will not be authorised to anchor. The vessel must then inform the control tower and return outside Benin territorial waters.
8. Only vessels having operations to be carried out at the Port of Cotonou are authorised to anchor and to embark an armed guard.
9. Any vessel having completed commercial operations and has left the Port of Cotonou must sail for its next destination, except in cases of force majeure and the express authorisation of the harbourmaster.
10. The payment of all taxes resulting from the call of any vessel is compulsory as per the Operating and Police Regulations and the other rules of the Port of Cotonou Authority