In total, 73% of all kidnappings at sea, and 92% of hostage-takings, took place in the Gulf of Guinea. Armed pirates in these high-risk waters kidnapped 27 crew members in the first half of 2019, and 25 in the same period in 2018. Two chemical tankers were hijacked, as well as a tug that was then used in another attack. Keep Reading
A high-level meeting on piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea has shone the spotlight on the need for urgent action to ensure the safety and security of seafarers transiting the region. Keep Reading
International maritime crime is becoming “increasingly sophisticated” as criminal groups exploit jurisdiction and enforcement challenges on the high seas and pose “immediate danger to people’s lives and safety”, the UN anti-drugs and crime chief warned the Security Council on January 5. Keep Reading
"Today, the local navies are doing a tremendous job with the resources they have available. Battling both insurgencies, terror organizations and other criminal activities however, there is simply not enough law enforcement resources to fully tackle the piracy threat." Keep Reading
The region saw a significant new spike in violence in the last quarter of 2018. Vessels have been boarded by pirates well outside territorial waters, with crew kidnapped and taken into Nigeria where they are held for ransom. Keep Reading
The MV GLARUS, owned by ALLISON Shipping, was hijacked off Bonny Island in Rivers State; NIMASA vowed they will be found and released unconditionally. Keep Reading
