Cameroon is said to be offering armed guards to stay onboard a vessel for the duration of its stay at Douala anchorage in an effort to protect vessels from piracy attacks.
Gard P&I Club said the guards will reportedly be supplied free of charge and will remain aboard until the vessel comes alongside.
UK security consultancy Gray Page, quoting unconfirmed reports, said three armed guards are being provided for each ship.
“The effect of piracy on crew and their safety continues to be a cause for concern and transiting West African waters remains particularly difficult,” said Gard.
“In the first half of 2019, 73% of all kidnappings at sea, and 92% of hostage-takings took place in the Gulf of Guinea.”
According to Gard’s local correspondent in the region, BUDD Group, the new arrangement will “reduce the administrative delays incurred” when completing an application for government armed guards on board.
“In the past, the presence of armed guards on board had to be authorized by the Ministry of Defence and the Presidency of the Republic,” said Gard.
“Vessels requiring the presence of armed guards on board were obliged to authorise their agent to complete the formalities. The process was slow and vessels rarely had the time to complete it.
The decision to provided armed guards is a measure of the authorities’ concern
Gray Page
“It is important to emphasise that there should be no additional costs associated with any armed guards entering the vessel and that they must collaborate with the security team for the success of the operation.”
According to Gard, the correspondent states that security alongside in Douala Port is “generally satisfactory, but highlights the risk of stowaways”.
News of the offer of armed guards comes just over one month since 17 seafarers were kidnapped from two vessels – one German and one Greek owned – at the Douala Anchorage.
In the first incident, eight crew were kidnapped from MC-Schiffahrt's 10,600-dwt multi-purpose vessel MarMalaita (built 2002) late on 14 August, the shipowner confirmed.
In a second incident, nine seafarers are said to have been kidnapped from the Greek-controlled, 33,500-dwt bulker Victory C (built 2012).
“There have been at least two other incidents of seafarers being abducted in Cameroon waters in the first eight months of 2019,” said Gray Page.
“Piracy is a major problem in the Gulf of Guinea but until 2019 attacks off Cameroon were relatively rare. The decision to provided armed guards is a measure of the authorities’ concern.”
Cameroon is located between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea on the Gulf of Guinea, whose coastline stretches in a huge arc from Liberia to Gabon and is notorious for piracy as well as oil theft, illegal fishing and human and drugs trafficking.
