Nigeria and Cameroon have committed to working together to fight piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
The two neighbouring countries described the situation in the region as alarming and requiring urgent attention on Sunday, Nigerian news publication Daily Trust said.
The collaboration will come as part of Nigeria's $195m Deep Blue Project, an inter-agency anti-piracy programme.
The effort will see the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) work together with Yaounde-based Inter-Regional Coordination Centre to build awareness and "de-confliction of activities" through the regional Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum.
In the first quarter of 2021, the Gulf of Guinea was the site of 43% of all global piracy incidents, including 32 boardings, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
The IMB counted 40 mariners kidnapped and one killed during an incident aboard the 2,824-teu containership Mozart (built 2007), when 15 others were taken hostage.
In 2020, 136 seafarers were taken hostage, with maritime security consultancy Dryad Global blaming weak governance in the region for the ongoing issues.
Most recently, the 1,100-teu boxship Contship New (built 2007) was boarded 426 km (230 nautical miles) south-west of Bonny, Nigeria, on 23 April.
Seafarers mustered in the citadel and none were taken hostage, with manager Contships Management commending their quick reaction to the boarding.
Still, Contships said the pirates damaged the bridge and accommodation block. The company argued for armed guards aboard ships to protect crews.
The Deep Blue Project is Nigeria's attempt to rein in piracy, with NIMASA working together with the Nigerian Navy to patrol its territorial waters and anchorages.
In March, it was said the two organisations were preparing the project for launch.
