Tag: Gulf of Guinea

A total of 121 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in the first nine months of 2017, according to the latest report by IMB. The report notes that, while piracy rates were down compared to the same period in 2016, there is continuing concern over attacks in the Gulf of Guinea and in South East Asia.

At the EU-hosted Our Ocean conference in Malta, on 5 to 6 of October, the European Union committed to take actions in order to tackle the problem of maritime security.

DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem has met with Senegalese President Macky Sall, as part of a tour of West and North Africa to confirm development of infrastructure projects in the country.

Celebrity Cruises announced partnership with the Regional Maritime University in Ghana marking the first time in cruise industry history, in order female bridge officers to be openly recruited from a West African country, through a new Celebrity-RMU Cadet Program.

IMO informed that it took a major role in an exercise, evaluating the success of code of conduct dealing with maritime crime in west and central Africa, in 16-17 August. The Yaoundé Code of Conduct was signed in 2013 by 25 west and central African countries, aiming to address matters such as piracy and illegal fishing.

The General cargo vessel OYA1 was reported to have been under attack by pirates on July, around 15nm off Bonny Island, Nigeria, Gulf of Guinea. The IMB Piracy Reporting Center confirmed the attacked and informed that 'some crew members were missing'.

On July 25, 2017, a consortium consisting of the French groups CMA CGM and Bolloré Transport & Logistics, as well as the Chinese group CHEC, held an official signing ceremony for the concession agreement of the new container terminal in Kribi, Cameroon.

Work to assist the Government of Cameroon to develop a national maritime security strategy is underway in Yaoundé, from 5 to 14 July, IMO informed. Senior government officials concerned with maritime matters are attending meetings with an IMO consultant, with a view to setting up a maritime security committee.

The European Community Shipowners’ Associations announced that they are concerned about the continued piracy, armed robbery attacks and kidnapping for ransom events in the Gulf of Guinea, and particularly off Nigeria. ECSA encourages several measures in order to improve the security situation, including proper protection by coastal states .

US MARAD issued a Maritime Advisory, providing guidance to U.S. flagged operators with vessels transiting the Gulf of Guinea. As pirates/ armed groups operating in the GoG region continue to carry out attacks on vessels, using automatic weapons, US MARAD strongly recommends operators to forward this Advisory to their ships.