A reconfigured version of anti-piracy guidelines has been released by the Round Table of international shipping associations.
The report is entitled ‘Guidelines for Owners, Operators and Masters for Protection against Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea Region.’
Piracy and armed robbery in the waters off West Africa have become an established criminal activity of very serious concern to the maritime sector.
Although the nature of the attacks on ships in West Africa differs from that of Somalia-based piracy, the basic principles of ‘Best Management Practices’ (BMP), previously developed by the industry to help protect against piracy in the Indian Ocean, are also applicable.
The guidelines can be read in conjunction with the BMPs, but seek to tailor this to the specifics of the threat in West Africa, providing comprehensive advice on avoiding and deterring criminal acts and armed robbery in the region.
The updated version also takes into account the new regional maritime security initiatives in West Africa, in particular the Maritime Trade Information Sharing Centre for the Gulf of Guinea, which is now providing a focal-point for information on countering piracy and maritime crime.
