IMO Urges Action to Combat Piracy in Gulf of Guinea

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will convene a maritime security working group in response to the growing number of pirate attacks on ships in the Gulf of Guinea.

The working group is set to meet at the next session of the Maritime Safety Committee, MSC 103, scheduled to take place in May, to provide an opportunity for Member States and international organizations to discuss further collaboration and possible action to address the problem.

Kitack Lim emphasized the need for stakeholders to work together to restore security in Gulf of Guinea

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim expressed his 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 stakeholders to work together to restore security and reduce the threats to the safety and security of crews and vessels operating in the region.The IMO said urgency of the situation has been underlined by the recent attack on the containership MV Mozart on 23 January 2021, which resulted in a fatality and the kidnapping of 15 seafarers, who have now been released.

In a circular letter (No. 4382, issued 10 February), the Secretary-General said that IMO 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 Coordination Centre for the Implementation of Regional Strategy for Maritime Safety and Security in Central and West Africa (ICC).

Ships need to implement the IMO endorsed Best Management Practices

The Secretary-General also highlighted that ships need to implement the IMO endorsed Best Management Practices (BMP) for West Africa (WA) to avoid, deter, delay and report attacks.

“IMO continues to provide technical assistance to Member States in the region regarding the implementation of maritime security measures,” IMO said in a statement. “The Organization is currently working with the Interregional Coordination Centre (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.