EUROPEAN ship owners have expressed worry over the
increasing rate of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, urging policy makers to
undertake concrete action to protect shipping through the region.
The latest
International Maritime Bureau (IMB)’s Piracy & Armed Robbery Report
demonstrates that the Gulf of Guinea has become increasingly dangerous for
seafarers.
In the first nine months of 2019, the region accounts for
86% of the 49 crew taken hostage and 82% of the 70 crew kidnapped globally.
“The perilous circumstances in the Gulf of Guinea raise
alarm bells for the safety and security of seafarers sailing through that
area,” Martin Dorsman, European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA)
Secretary General, commented.
“The threats are also putting at risk trade and development
both in the region and globally. It is time EU member states step up their
efforts to strengthen maritime security in the Gulf.”
ECSA members outlined a range of measures that could be
taken to improve the current situation. These include engagement of the EU with
the Gulf of Guinea governments in order to find a solution on the ground, an
active contribution of the EU member states to the maritime security outside
the territorial waters and the union’s support for coastal states on issues
such as judicial systems, strengthening of the local coast guards and promotion
of maritime training.
The ECSA call echoes concerns expressed earlier this year at
a symposium on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea held at the
International Maritime Organization (IMO) head office in London.
Speakers at the event emphasized the region was starting to
build capacity and joint cooperation to fight maritime crime through the
Yaoundé Process, which focuses on joint cooperation across the region for
reporting and response.