Attacks on trawlers have reduced – FG, Fishing trawlers

By Godwin Oritse

THE Nigerian Trawler Owners Association, NITOA, and the Federal Department of Fishery and Agriculture, have said that there has been a drastic reduction in pirates attacks against fishing trawlers.

Speaking to Vanguard Maritime Report, President of the association, Mr. Amire Akinbola, said although he could not make the figures available to our correspondent, the report of such attacks was very minimal last year.

Maritime Security News Note:

This may well be the case for Nigerian fishermen, but it’s a different story for crew on other vessels. On Feb. 24th, eight Chinese crew were reportedly kidnapped from fishing vessels off Cameroon.

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Source: vanguardngr.com

Crew Kidnap – Gulf of Guinea (March 3rd)

Underway Malta-flagged tanker attacked and boarded by pirates at 2030 UTC in position 05:37N – 001:11E, around 30nm South of Lome, Togo. Crew mustered in citadel, however, three Romanian crew members were kidnapped. Remainder of 21 crew were able to sail vessel to Lome anchorage under escort. Reported (MDAT/Romanian MFA) 3 Mar. Via OCEANUSLive.org

Petro-piracy a growing risk off West Africa

Petro-piracy is emerging once again as a significant threat in West African waters, with the Gulf of Guinea at the epicentre, delegates at the 10th Chemical & Products Tanker Conference were told in London earlier this week.

David Fletcher, head of compliance at EOS Risk Group, said that as petro-piracy has re-emerged as a threat since January 2018, ships carrying cargoes such as jet fuel, diesel, crude oil and marine gas oil are all at greater risk.

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Source: seatrade-maritime.com

Pirates kidnap three Romanian sailors

Pirates have reportedly kidnapped three Romanian sailors aboard a tanker ship off Lome, Togo.

This was after sea robbers attempted to board a container ship owned by Singapore’s Pacific International Lines while the vessel was sailing on the high sea around Nigeria’s Niger Delta region on February 21.

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Source: punchng.com

Maritime Security News Note:

There has been a sharp spike in piracy and maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea over the last three weeks. This is potentially a political message from President Buhari’s opponents and organised crime groups in the Niger Delta. We have seen three crew kidnapped here as well as eight crew from Chinese fishing vessels in recent weeks, representing a worrying increase in risk for merchant vessels visiting the region.

Why Piracy Persists In Nigeria’s Maritime Sector ― Navy

By Tola Adenubi – Lagos

The Head, Maritime Guard Command of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Navy Capt. Yahuza Badamosi has revealed that delay in passage of the Piracy Bill and the slow judicial process in the country are major reasons piracy attacks persists on Nigerian waterways.

Speaking recently when the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) paid a courtesy visit to the NIMASA management in Lagos, Navy Capt. Badamosi explained that there is no law yet in the country that criminalizes piracy activities.

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Source: tribuneonlineng.com