Increased threat to shipping / Gulf of Guinea 01-250221

INCREASED THREAT TO SHIPPING

 

Event: Report of increased threat to shipping 

 

Date: 25 February 2021

 

Description: ARC has received a report from MDAT-GoG stating that they believe the threat of piracy has increased in the following areas:

• Zone E (Togo, Benin, Nigeria)
• Zone F eastern area (Ghana).

 

MDAT-GoG statement: “We strongly recommend that the seafaring community and ships transiting these areas increase their vigilance and retain an enhanced local surveillance and apply BMP
WA procedures.”

 

ARC Comment: This area has seen a number of attacks in the last 6 months. November saw multiple attacks offshore Benin, and at the end of January a bulk carrier drifting deep offshore
Ghana was attacked and boarded by pirates (pirates were ultimately unsuccessful in that attack due to good crew citadel drills). This guidance is especially important for any vessels sailing into and out of Lomé and Cotonou. Vessels sailing to and from Lagos
should avoid the area deep offshore Benin and are recommend to either stay close to the coast (for a quicker Navy response in the event of an incident) or go deep offshore and approach Lagos from due south with additional security.

 

It should be noted however that threat patterns can change quickly and that currently there are believed to be more than one pirate group operating in the region. Therefore all vessels
across the region should ensure that security onboard is increased.

 

ARC will update if any further information is received.