IMO Urges Action to Deter Piracy in Gulf of Guinea
Enhanced cooperation and implementation of best practices are needed to avoid, deter and report attacks threatening ships and crew in the world's top piracy hotspot, says the United Nations' (UN) maritime agencyKitack Lim, Secretary-General of the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) expressed his deep concern about the escalation in the number and severity of attacks on ships and crew in the Gulf of Guinea region, and insisted on the need for a collaborative approach…
A Maritime Security Strategy for Cameroon
Work to assist the Government of Cameroon to develop a national maritime security strategy is underway in Yaoundé (5-14 July). Senior Government officials from departments and agencies concerned with maritime matters are attending meetings with an IMO consultant with a view to setting up a maritime security committee. This committee will set the course for a draft programme and strategy to enhance the country’s maritime security. These efforts fall under International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Strategy for Implementing Sustainable Maritime Security Measures in West and Central Africa. The IMO’s Strategy for implementing sustainable…
UNSC Highlights IMO's capacity-building work in Gulf of Guinea
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has welcomed the Presidential Statement from the United Nations Security Council (S/PRST/2016/4) in which the Council strongly condemns acts of murder, kidnapping, hostage-taking and robbery by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea and encourages States in the region and regional organizations to enhance cooperation on maritime safety and security. The statement also recognizes the efforts of the countries in the region in adopting measures to counter piracy and armed robbery at sea and address transnational organized crime, such as drug trafficking, as well as other measures to enhance maritime safety and security.
Gulf of Guinea Piracy a ‘Deep Concern’ -UN Security Council
The United Nations Security Council on Monday expressed its deep concern over piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, and stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach — led by States of the region, with international support — to address the problem and its root causes. Issuing presidential statement S/PRST/2016/4, the Council strongly condemned acts of murder, kidnapping, hostage-taking and robbery by pirates in the Gulf, and underlined the importance of determining any links between piracy and armed robbery at sea, and terrorist groups in West Africa and the Sahel subregions. It encouraged regional organizations — including the African Union…
Information Sharing to Fight Piracy and Illegal Fishing in Ghana
International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Chris Trelawny has visited the Maritime Trade Information Sharing Centre (MTISC-GoG), located in the Regional Maritime University of Accra, Ghana. The multinational centre provides advice and information to merchant shipping operating in the Gulf of Guinea. At the time of the visit over 630 ships were exchanging information with the centre. In recent months the centre has provided support to ships and authorities to assist in countering piracy and illegal fishing, as well as supporting search and rescue operations. The watchkeeping staff who operate this centre come from the navies of Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo, the Liberian Maritime Authority and from private companies and are supported by Merchant Navy liaison officers.
Japan Gives $1 Million to Gulf of Guinea Fund
The Government of Japan has made a contribution of $1 million (USD) to the IMO West and Central Africa Maritime Security Trust Fund, established by IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu to implement maritime security projects in the Gulf of Guinea, including the prevention and suppression of piracy and armed robbery against ships and other illicit maritime activity. The significant contribution by Japan will go towards supporting the implementation of the Code of Conduct concerning the prevention of piracy, armed robbery against ships and illicit maritime activity in the West and Central Africa, which was signed by west and central Africa countries in June 2013.
