Maritime somali-pirates-standoff-fb _ unilad
Piracy situation still serious in the Gulf of Guinea
E uropean shipowners are concerned about the continued piracy , armed robbery attacks and kidnapping for ransom events in the Gulf of Guinea ( GoG ), and particularly off Nigeria .
According to the latest International Maritime Bureau ( IMB ) Piracy report in total 33 vessels were boarded and four fired upon in the first three months of 2017 worldwide . During the same period , of the 27 seafarers kidnapped for ransom , 63 % were in the Gulf of Guinea .
In its Global Maritime Security Conclusions adopted 19 June , the Environment Council recognised the problematic situation in the Gulf of Guinea . It underlined the need for regional states to take ownership and adapt their legal systems in order to fight piracy . The Council also welcomed bilateral initiatives of EU Member States in the region and advocated the need to coordinate them with ongoing EU initiatives .
“ The continued problems in the Gulf of Guinea create serious concerns about the security of seafarers sailing in that area ”, commented Patrick Verhoeven , ECSA Secretary General “ Maritime insecurity also disrupts trade flows and has a direct impact on the ability of ports to serve as hubs for parts of the continent . A poor security situation also imposes high costs on imports and exports
According to the latest International Maritime Bureau ( IMB ) Piracy report in total 33 vessels were boarded and four fired upon in the first three months of 2017 worldwide . During the same period , of the 27 seafarers kidnapped for ransom , 63 % were in the Gulf of Guinea .
and put jobs and economic activity at risk ”, he concluded . ECSA encourages several measures in order to improve the security situation in the Gulf of Guinea . These measures include : 1 ) The proper protection by coastal states , 2 ) The investigation of the potential use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel ( PCASP ) by the owners , 3 ) The prosecution of piracy and armed robbery and 4 ) The establishment of effective judicial systems , good coordination of law enforcement assets and an efficient and well working reporting and coordination system to respond to incidents . In addition , European shipowners support initiatives on capacity building and strongly encourage coastal states to take their responsibility and respect their obligations under international law ( UNCLOS ). ecsa . eu
24