Pirate attacks in West Africa to double in 2014
The number of pirate attacks in the
Gulf of Guinea could double next year if governments do not act to protect
off-shore assets, according to Paramount Group, Africa’s largest privately
owned defence and aerospace business.
There have
been over 360 attacks on merchant shipping this year and without action by West
African governments this could rise to over 700 incidents in 2014. This could see an average of two
attacks every day of the year.
However, piracy threatens more than just oil and gas assets, criminal
gangs at sea are responsible for drug trafficking, arms smuggling, dumping of
toxic waste, illegal bunkering and illegal fishing.
This is in addition to the problems caused by the profits from piracy
that finance other criminal activity such as terrorism and human
trafficking that have a
significant human and financial cost.
James
Fisher, CEO of Paramount Naval Systems said: “As stronger counter-piracy
measures have developed in East Africa, criminal organisations have come to see
coastal assets in West Africa as soft targets. The result is that the waters of
the Gulf of Guinea are now the most dangerous in Africa for merchant shipping.
“West African nations are rapidly developing their oil and gas
infrastructure to capitalise on existing assets and exploit new offshore
discoveries. These assets can serve as the driver of long-term economic
development in these countries, boosting industry, creating thousands of jobs
and bringing in billions of dollars of foreign investment.
“Unless it is tackled quickly and effectively, piracy could do serious
damage to Nigeria’soil and gas industry, slowing development for years to come.
“The solution is not to seek international help to solve these African
problems, but to build African solutions to them. The development of a strong
African shipbuilding industry means it is possible for African nations to find
African solutions to the threat of piracy.
In response to growing demand from sovereign governments across Africa
and the developing world, Paramount Naval Systems is developing a fleet of
multi-role patrol vessels.
The speed
and flexibility of Paramount’s ships mean they are ideal for a wide range of
operations in coastal waters to prevent illegal activity and protect assets and
territory.
Paramount presented their multi-role naval
vessels as part of the fight against piracy in West Africa at Africa’s largest
maritime security event, Maritime & Coastal Security Africa in Cape Town
(November 25-27), where Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor, Chief of Policy and Plans,
Nigerian Navy, highlighted developments in West African navies’ response to
piracy threats.
Attacks on shipping in the Gulf of Guinea have become the greatest
threat to merchant shipping in Africa, surpassing attacks off Somalia in 2012.
Currently there is an average of one attack per day on ships in the Gulf
of Guinea and the trend is only worsening.
Fisher continued:“To protect national resources, it’s essential to
invest in flexible and modern maritime resources to patrol coastal waters and
effectively counter piracy.
“Our
multi-role patrol vessels establish a capability that allows African navies to
respond rapidly to an array of terrorist and criminal threats by giving naval
forces the resources to ensure they are always a step ahead of the pirates.”
0 comments: