Spirit of Cooperation
The recent highly successful Offshore Patrol Vessel presented by the Nigerian Navy welcomed in the Spirit of Cooperation the advancement of the Gulf of Guinea Critical Gas and Oil Infrastructure-Task Force
Spirit of Cooperation
The recent highly successful Offshore Patrol Vessel presented by the Nigerian Navy welcomed in the Spirit of Cooperation the advancement of the Gulf of Guinea Critical Gas and Oil Infrastructure-Task Force [GoG COGI TF]. This will include all critical infrastructures, [inclusive of the maritime transport sector and their associated platforms such as vessels and ports] that enable the sustainable development of the energy industries that operate within the Gulf of Guinea sub-region.
Presented by the African Maritime Safety and Security Agency [AMSSA] the concept builds upon two in-depth unbiased analytical processes; coordinated by AMSSA the International Maritime Organisation [IMO] and the American Maritime Liaison Unit [MARLU] during Hanson Wade workshops held in West Africa.
Experts and delegates stated that due to the Geographic’s of the Gulf of Guinea sub region Member States, Defence representative and key stakeholders such as industry representatives of energy and transport sectors must be included to broaden the debate in relation to sub-regional maritime security threats and this should be facilitated along with a simple framework from which underlying issues can be identified and explored more fully. As well as a cohesive coordination framework from which information can be securely collected and analytically managed will be vital if agreed actions can be targeted and evolve into sustainable action and solutions.
The links between energy extraction and the current escalation of security threat in the GoG may not be dismissed as purely coincidental, there is increasing evidence of association between attack and hydrocarbon theft; thus it is imperative that the GoG COGI Task Force embrace and integrate those probable connections as a unique source of information and as a potential source for a solution.
The GoG COGI TF framework will provide an important communication mechanism between and with Government, Defence, Law Enforcement Bodies, Maritime Transport Providers, Industry, International organisations, NGOs and other stakeholders and will seek to bring on-board technical assistance when and where requests are made.
The framework will also have very specific benefit for the representatives in providing clarity and standards for future intelligence work, the shared knowledge will enable decision makers to review collated intelligence and introduce more rigour into their management decision-making processes for both strategic and tactical purposes.
Acceptance of the basic precepts of the GoG COGI TS framework by participating Governments, Agencies and Stakeholders will greatly aid the effort to ‘join up’ critical law enforcement activity and to provide the strategic and operational focus needed to ensure sustainable and long term security solutions for the Gulf of Guinea Member States.
Gulf of Guinea- Critical Oil & Gas Infrastructure Task Force. GoG COGI TF
The Mission of the GoG COGI TF is to significantly reduce the threats that impact on the safety and security of energy and maritime sectors that are operational within the Gulf of Guinea.
The Aim of the GoG COGI TF is to coordinate and provide a robust communication mechanism between and with Government, Agencies, Defence, Law Enforcement Bodies, Industry, International organisations, NGOs and other stakeholders for all aspects of security threat that obstruct the sustainable progress of maritime transport and the oil/gas sectors that are operational within the Gulf of Guinea.
To enable that aim knowledge gleaned from the outputs of the in country workshops and further dialogue placed emphasis on the fact that there are a number of different elements that required immediate focus. Additionally it was pointed out that those interdependent elements would also require specific expertise if they were to establish coherent outputs and purposeful intent. The idea was that sub task forces needed to be considered and developed; these would focus on the different parts required to inform the overarching process. Acting on those suggestions the following five sub task force units will be developed for the framework.
1. Task Force One: GoG Industry Think Tank
2. Task Force Two: GoG Maritime and Energy Security
3. Task Force Three: GoG Governance and Legal Issues
4. Task Force Four: GoG Media and Community Engagement
5. Task Force Five: GoG Crisis Management and Response
See also: Gulf of Guinea- Critical Oil & Gas Infrastructure Task Force
AMSSA as the coordinator will act as an unbiased entity whose mission will be to collect collate and to both provide analysis of provided information and develop reports as requested by Task Force representatives. AMSSA will be responsible to develop the meetings agendas as instructed by the Chairman of each sub Task Force.
For further information please email kl@amssa.net
