Piracy and the Gulf of Guinea
Ships advised against using armed guards in Nigerian waters.
Piracy and the Gulf of Guinea
The Maritime Trade and Information Sharing Centre for the Gulf of Guinea (MTISC-GoG) has advised vessels transiting or visiting any Nigerian port not to have any security guard, whether armed or unarmed, on board.
This follows statements made by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and the Nigerian Navy, that they may detain any vessel entering the country’s territorial and coastal waters with security escorts on board, whether armed or unarmed. To date the Nigerian Navy has detained three vessels for having private security personnel on board.
Practical guidance on security measures
The UK Club recommends the Guidelines for Owners, Operators and Masters for Protection against Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea Region” which were jointly developed byBIMCO, ICS, INTERTANKO and INTERCARGO, and which are available here:http://www.ukpandi.com/knowledge/article/new-industry-guidelines-for-gulf-of-guinea-130614/
Additional guidance and reporting recommendations
The UK Club also recommends that Members trading to the Gulf of Guinea region should be familiar with the MTISC-GoG website, linked here:
The MTISC-GoG website provides mariners with details on how to use the Voluntary Reporting Area together with general maritime security guidelines for vessels operating in the region (Maritime Security Guidance –Gulf of Guinea “MSG-GoG”) issued by MTISC-GoG. The website also provides a summary of maritime security incidents within the voluntary reporting area.
Members requiring further information should contact their usual Club contact.
Source: ukpandi.com
