The Japan P&I Club received information from its local correspondent in Guinea, TCI Africa Conakry, warning operators to be very vigilant for robberies.
As Japan Club notes, its local correspondent attended a vessel at Conakry where crew members were severely beaten by robbers, who also looted cashes, mobile phones and electric items this week. Fortunately, there was no loss of life.
Currently, it is highly recommended at Conakry that if vessels are not berthing on arrival, that they go out to open sea, remain cautious and await until berth is available.
Please note that the change of local situation is so unforeseeable, that the above is to be updated accordingly. We recommend that members to check the latest information at the time of vessel’s calling through local agents in Guinea
Japan Club urges.
These incidents come at a time when the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported the lowest number of reported piracy and armed robbery incidents for the first nine months of any year since 1994.
Decrease in Gulf of Guinea
The Gulf of Guinea region recorded 28 incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the first nine months of 2021, in comparison to 46 for the same period in 2020.
Most notably, Nigeria only reported four incidents in the first nine months of 2021, in comparison to 17 in 2020 and 41 in 2018.
Crew kidnappings in the region have dropped with only one crew member kidnapped in Q3 2021, compared to 31 crew members taken in five separate incidents during Q3 2020. All Q3 incidents in 2021 were also against vessels at port anchorages whilst the average successful kidnapping location in Q3 2020 was approximately 100NM from land.
