EMEA News
Rotate Naval Presence in Gulf of Guinea to Suppress Piracy: BIMCO
The increasing problem of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea could be suppressed with a relatively small naval presence provided on a rota system by countries outside the region, according to shipping industry body BIMCO.
BIMCO has convened a group of shipowners to draft a declaration on piracy in the region, it said in a statement on its website on Monday. The Gulf of Guinea was responsible for more than 95% of the 135 seafarer kidnappings reported globally last year.
"BIMCO maintains that the piracy can be suppressed with as little as two frigates with helicopters and one maritime patrol aircraft which actively combat piracy in the area," the industry body said in the statement.
"It is therefore imperative that non-regional countries provide the necessary assets on a rotation basis, and that one or more states in the area support the effort with logistics and prosecution of arrested pirates.
"The Declaration does not aspire to provide the long-term solution to the piracy problem but to help make seafarers safe today."
