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.
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.
Ships sailing through or operating in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (GOA) are advised to refer to the Industry Releasable Threat Bulletin (IRTB) issued by Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR), to be informed of an incident that took place in the GOA, in advance of the publication of their next quarterly Industry Releasable Threat Assessment (IRTA).
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), stand against the high rate of piracy, armed robbery, and other maritime crimes on the Nigeria’s waterways.
Pirates attacked the tanker San Ramons off Venezuela, on February 24. During the attack, the Captain was shot in the head and subsequently died, while another crew was injured, and one is missing, after jumping overboard.
Maersk Tema, a container ship operated by Bernhard Schulte Ship, was attacked by two speedboats in the Gulf of Guinea on February 14. The crew initiated emergency procedures, while it is not known if the pirates managed to board the ship.
The Standard Club is focusing on the rise of piracy and armed robbery attacks off West Africa in the timeframe between 2019 to 2020, and collaborates with several local lawyers and correspondents in the area receiving various guidance.
The shipping industry is willing to support Nigerian Navy efforts and work with all parties, in order to end the escalation of piracy that acts as an endemic blight to free trade, was the key message of ICS Chairman Esben Poulsson while speaking after the ICS Board meeting in London this week.
In a written reply to a Parliamentary Question on Piracy Along Singapore Strait by Mr Christopher de Souza, the Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen noted that the Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) plans to restructure in order to deal with piracy at sea.
