The video, issued by One Earth Future’s Stable Seas, looks at the criminal activities that have historically taken place in the Gulf of Guinea and the recent strides being made in combating those illegalities. At the centre of efforts, the ‘Yaounde Code of Conduct’ brings together signatory nations from West and Central Africa.
A ceremony took place today in Rota Naval Base, Cadiz, Spain, to mark the relocation of the operation Headquarters of EU NAVFOR Atalanta Operation. The relocation comes in view of Britain’s planned departure from the EU.
In its weekly report for 5-11 February, ReCAAP ISC informed of three incidents that took place. Of the three incidents, one occurred on February 6, whereas the other two occurred in January. The incidents in January 2019 were reported to ReCAAP ISC by Contact Point Hong Kong after verification with the relevant agencies.
According to the Nigerian Navy, thirty-four pirate ship attacks were reported in 2018, stating that evasive manoeuvre from the legal regime have been the bane in the fight against oil theft prosecution. From January to December 2018, from the 34 reported pirate attacks, the 9 were successful, whereas the 25 were unsuccessful; 20 sea robbery attacks were reported in 2018, with 6 having success, in comparison to 14 being unsuccessful.
On January 31st, Sea Shepherd vessel the ‘M/V Farley Mowat’ was attacked by more than 50 assailants posing as fishermen on board 20 high speed boats while performing maritime conservation patrols inside the Vaquita Refuge in the Upper Gulf of California. A total of 52 skiffs were counted. The poachers threw molotov cocktails and projectiles, including lead weights and large stones, smashing windows and setting the side of the Sea Shepherd ship on fire.
On January 21, an anchored ore carrier that was in Jingtang Anchorage, China suffered a piracy attack when two robbers were approaching the vessel with an unlit barge. The two robbers run to escape and nothing was reported stolen. ReCAAP ISC reported that the number of incidents during the period 2007-2018 in Asia fluctuated, with the highest number being reported in 2015 (203 incidents) and the lowest in 2018 (76 incidents).
During the annual joint ministerial meeting of African Union and European Union in Brussels, on 21-22 January, Denmark’s foreign minister, Anders Samuelsen, announced a new phase of the country’s stabilisation programme for the Horn of Africa.
The United Nations Secretary General’s office launched the ‘Activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel’ report, focusing on Nigeria loosing approximately $2.8 billion during 2018, as a result of crude oil and maritime crimes. Maritime crime, including piracy, dominated in the coast of West Africa and posed a big threat to peace and development in the region.
Sea Shepherd Vessel M/V Farley Mowat was attacked while it was conducting maritime patrols inside the Vaquita Refuge in the Upper Gulf of California, and had recovered three illegal gillnets, when the crew noticed approximately 35 skiffs operating inside the refuge. The Sea Shepherd vessel headed towards the skiffs to observe fishing methods being employed, as all gillnet fishing is strictly prohibited inside the marine protected area.
A week after the abduction of six crew members from the container ship MSC Mandy off Benin, BIMCO stressed that piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is an unacceptable burden to seafarers and shipping companies and asked, on behalf of its members, that maritime powers increase their presence to curb piracy.
