International Maritime Organization (IMO) secretary general, Kitack Lim has expressed his deep concern about the escalation in the number and severity of attacks on ships and crew in the Gulf of Guinea region.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]Lim insisted on the need for the collaboration of all stakeholders to restore security and reduce the threats to the safety and security of crew memebrs and vessels operating in the specific high-risk era.
“Enhanced co-operation and implementation of best practices is needed to avoid, deter and report attacks threatening ships and crew,” pointed out the IMO in its announcement earlier in February.
The urgency of the situation has been underlined by the attack on the container ship Mozart on 23 January, which resulted in the fatality of one crew member and the kidnapping of another 15 seafarers.
In a circular letter (No. 4382, issued 10 February), IMO’s secretary general said that the organisation has been taking action to enhance the coordination of initiatives among stakeholders, including facilitating meetings with representatives of the industry, the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Interregional Co-ordination Centre for the Implementation of Regional Strategy for Maritime Safety and Security in Central and West Africa (ICC).
In addition, Kitack Lim has highlighted that ships need to implement the IMO endorsed Best Management Practices (BMP) for West Africa (WA), which cover risk assessment, ship protection measures and reporting, to “avoid, deter, delay and report attacks.”
IMO intends to convene a maritime security working group focusing on the Gulf of Guinea at the next session of the Maritime Safety Committee, MSC 103, scheduled to take place in May 2021. This will provide an opportunity for Member States and international organisations to discuss further collaboration and possible action to address the existing problems, according to a statement.
Furthermore, IMO said that it continues to provide technical assistance to Member States in the region regarding the implementation of maritime security measures. The global organisation is currently working with the ICC to assist with the implementation of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct (YCC), a regional code aimed at enhancing maritime security and addressing piracy, armed robbery against ships, illegal fishing and other illicit maritime activity.
In the meantime, the IMO West and Central Africa Maritime Security Trust Fund enables the IMO’s maritime security capacity-building programme to assist Gulf of Guinea coastal States as well as regional centres under the framework of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct.
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