Support for eradicating piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is gaining strength in Asia and world-wide, with organisations including Japan’s NYK Line and Asian Shipowners’ Association among the latest to join the call for action, reports BIMCO
Signatures for the Gulf of Guinea Declaration on Suppression of Piracy, are approaching 450 and almost 60 organisations based in Asia have joined since its launch in May 2021.
Call for seafarer safety
To BIMCO, the world’s largest international shipping association, the call for the safety of seafarers in the Gulf of Guinea is not only necessary but it is also about doing the right thing. Ms Sabrina Chao, President of BIMCO said, “We are grateful for every declaration signature. Each signature represents much more than support on a piece of paper, it represents one more step in the right direction.“
“Each time a company, authority and organisation decide to sign the declaration, it takes our industry one step closer to a point where seafarers do not have to fear for their lives when entering the Gulf of Guinea. It is about solidarity and about doing the right thing.”
Spike in piracy attacks
The dry season in the area from October to March traditionally brings a spike in piracy attacks, and while the aim of pirates in the early 2000s was theft of oil cargoes by hijacking ships, it has changed to kidnapping seafarers for ransom.
With the inauguration of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure project (Deep Blue) and international warships deploying to Gulf of Guinea on antipiracy missions, Nigeria now faces a golden opportunity to take action and suppress the pirates. Piracy also poses a threat to the global supply chain.
Ms Chao’s call for solidarity across the industry to take action on piracy is echoed by the Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA). Mr Yuichi Sonoda, ASA’s Secretary General said, “The Asian Shipowners’ Association supports the Declaration to proclaim the unity and determination of the shipping community to suppress piracy in the Gulf of Guinea”.
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Source: BIMCO
