1 The Committee, at its ninety-eighth session (7 to 16 June 2017), considered the
under-reporting of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Gulf
of Guinea. According to information provided by the International Maritime Bureau
(IMB) of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the under-reporting was
estimated to be in the order of 60 to 70%. It was noted that this was leading to
ineffective analysis and understanding of the problem, a less efficient response,
and exacerbating the risk to crews. The Committee therefore agreed to remind all
parties of the need to report such incidents in a timely and accurate manner to the
appropriate authorities.
2 The Committee recalled the reporting mechanisms, set out in MSC.1/Circ.1333.Rev1 on
Recommendations to Governments for preventing and suppressing piracy and
armed robbery against ships and MSC.1/Circ.1334 on Guidance to shipowners and ship operators,
shipmasters and crews on preventing and suppressing acts of piracy and armed
robbery against ships, and in particular, the need to report to the coastal
States.
3 With respect to the Gulf of Guinea, the Committee noted that the Maritime Domain
Awareness for Trade – Gulf of Guinea (MDAT – GoG) commenced operations in June 2016.
The Committee further noted that information provided by ships to the MDAT-GoG when
transiting West African waters was intended to help build a common maritime picture
between countries in the region and support actions and interventions by regional
navies in response to piracy attacks.
4 The Committee urged the MDAT-GoG that it should work in collaboration with coastal
States in the implementation of the Code of Conduct concerning the repression of
piracy, armed robbery against ships, and illicit maritime activity in west and
central Africa, adopted formally in Yaoundé, in June 2013, by Heads of State and
Government or their representatives from 25 west and central African countries.
5 The Committee also urged all shipowners, ship operators and ships' masters to
register with MDAT-GoGfootnote upon entering its voluntary reporting area and to
report suspicious activity and incidents of piracy and armed robbery in a timely
manner (the MDAT-GoG can be contacted by phone at +33 (02) 98 22 88 88 or by email
to watchkeepers@mdat-gog.org. All details for registration and reporting are
contained on UKHO security chart Q 6114 and CS Carte de sûreté maritime 8801).
6 The Committee further urged shipowners, ship operators, ships' masters, and
commercial companies providing risk and security advice to clients operating in the
Gulf of Guinea, to also report incidents of piracy and armed robbery and suspicious
activity to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) (the IMB PRC can be contacted by
phone at +60 3 2031 0014 or by email to imbkl@icc-ccs.org).
7 The Committee reminded flag, port, and coastal States of their responsibilities to
investigate the incidents and to take into account the welfare of seafarers who are
victims of crime.
8 Member States and organizations in consultative status with IMO are invited to
bring this circular to the attention of shipowners, ship operators, ships' masters,
and commercial companies providing risk and security advice to clients operating in
the Gulf of Guinea, and all other parties concerned.