Ghana and Nigeria continue to take pragmatic steps to strengthen bilateral cooperation to curb piracy on the Gulf of Guinea through improved maritime security.
As part of these collaboration, a total of 67 students from the Nigerian Armed Forces Staff College have visited the Port of Tema. The visit of the students were part of a study tour to boost information exchange to address trending security issues such as maritime security. Upon their arrival, officials at the Tema Port gave them a warmly welcome after which they educated them on some of the practices at the port.
The spokesperson of the group, Lt. Col. Musa, highlighted the purpose of their visit during an interaction with port officials.
“The purpose of our visit is to research on topical issues affecting the African sub-region. This year our theme is National Efforts towards Improved Regional Security”.
Tema Port is ISPS compliant
Meanwhile, the Tema Port Security Manager, Col. Emmanuel Nyante, received the delegation from Nigeria on behalf of Ghana and the Tema Port. He educated the students on standard security procedures at the Port in mitigating internal and external security threats. More importantly, he emphasized that the Tema Port complies with the International Ship and Facility Security Code (ISPS).
Also, he stressed the importance of strengthened regional cooperation towards the fight against piracy that is bedeviling the Gulf of Guinea. On her part, Lydia Tham, Principal Marketing and Public Affairs Officer at the Port of Tema, also underscored the GPHA’s adaptive measures and its relevance. She also highlighted the Port’s relevant health and security stakeholders in ensuring business continuity during the advent of COVID-19.
Furthermore, she revealed that “our health personnel go on board, equipped fully, to take specimen of ship’s crew for testing at anchorage”. According to her, they do this “even before the vessel is allowed to dock in the port”.
Surge in Piracy on the Gulf of Guinea
The Gulf of Guinea’s coastal waters constitute a central shipping lane and experience a high piracy threat. This area facilitates trade between southern and western Africa. Also, it is a key route for valuable goods such as crude oil emanating from Angola and Nigeria. However, bold kidnappers are creating fear around this important trade route.
Pirates regularly target commercial ships, bulk carriers, cargo ships, and their crews. Pirates have traditionally operated out of Nigeria’s Niger Delta Region.
However, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea continues to spread, with several new hotspots emerging in recent months. Some occur as far south as the Exclusive Economic Zone of Gabon. The waters off Nigeria remains the most prone to piracy and maritime kidnapping incidents.
Recent reports show that the Gulf of Guinea recorded more kidnappings in the first two months of 2021 alone. The cases recorded within these 3 months are higher than the entire first quarter of 2020.
On May 19, 2021, suspected pirates boarded a fishing vessel and kidnapped at least five crew members approximately 65 NM (120 km/75 miles) south of Tema. One Korean, one Russian, and three Chinese nationals were among the abductees. No ransom demand or casualties were immediately reported.
Rising risk of pirate attacks
However, GardaWorld, a leading provider of integrated security solutions, warns that further incidents of piracy are likely in the Gulf of Guinea in the coming months. According to the security institution, incidents in areas previously considered as low risk may face an elevated threat.
As a result, GardaWorld has advised those operating in the Gulf of Guinea to exercise a high degree of caution. More importantly, ship operators should implement best management practices to mitigate piracy-associated threats.
Also, it advises companies to regularly review their ship security assessment and plan under the ISPS, particularly in piracy-prone areas. Moreover, it advised companies to maintain strict anti-piracy watches and report all pirate activity. This comprises both actual and attempted attacks, as well as suspicious sightings, to local naval authorities.
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