Tanker operator, has publish the following,
Jun 20 2014
Insurance and
P&I service provider Skuld has warned of a disagreement between the
Nigerian army and the Nigerian marine police over the placing of armed guards
on board vessels.
The Nigerian army has started
to detain/arrest vessels with armed guards on board even if they have been
provided by the Nigerian marine police.
The Nigerian army considers
that it has jurisdiction over the territorial sea and EEZ (exclusive economic
zone), Skuld said.
It is not allowing armed
guards on board vessels, even from the Nigerian marine police, whereas the
Nigerian army is only providing patrol boats/escorts.
The International Group of
P&I Clubs is aware of the problem and has been informed that the IMO is
in contact
with the Nigerian Maritime Authority to have the situation clarified.
In another alert, the latest
security advisory for Nigeria issued by BIMCO effectively renders the use of
armed guards commercially placed on vessels illegal.
This is highly likely to have
major repercussions for a shipowner and the charterer should they be caught
with unauthorised armed police, or marine police on board warned maritime
security company GoAGT.
According to BIMCO, there have
been a number of ‘blue on blue’ incidents in the last six months and the
industry as
a whole is concerned about the safety of crew transiting the
region.
This warning comes exactly a
month after a vessel was boarded near Port Harcourt and had her cargo stolen
while
the crew were held hostage, despite a Nigerian Naval vessel being in the
vicinity.
Nick Davis, GoAGT CEO, said:
"BIMCO have taken a strong, proactive stance on this issue. The incident a
month ago was entirely preventable with the use of an unarmed advisor and a
good radar lookout. The crew were very lucky not to have suffered injury, had
they been able to react quicker and retreated to the citadel the situation
would have diffused quickly.
“The primary concern should be
the safety of the personnel, theft in the Gulf of Guinea is unfortunately
something shipowners and managers have to deal with, with an advisor on board
vessels can avoid a hostage situation during
a boarding.
"Merchant vessels
approaching Nigeria from within the Gulf of Guinea must understand that the
Nigerian Navy are
the only authorised body to offer protection via escort
vessels only and not with armed guards on client vessels.
The option for Joint
Task Force, or police protection is only available within the riverine deltas
and not on the high
seas. There is a clear and present danger to the safety of
the crew with the only effective solution being to employ an advisor who can
safely get the crew to the citadel, which must be well-equipped with
communications equipment.
"Currently, the use of
armed guards in the region falls into a legal grey area. Shipowners and
managers being offered so-called 'authorised' armed protection within the Gulf
of Guinea by private maritime security companies are well advised to seek
advice from BIMCO, their flag state and the local Nigerian embassy, or
consulate for the latest advice and protocol prior to parting with money for a
service that could have severe operational interruption to normal trading.
"There is no satisfactory
way for managers and owners to perform due diligence on locally sourced guards.
It has been reported in the past that incidents of product theft, or kidnap,
have been targeted against vessels carrying guards.
Due to the high risk of
operating in this area, shipowners and managers must do all that is in their
power to ensure the crew remain safe with thorough training, enhanced watch
keeping and a well prepared plan of action in case of an incident," Davis
concluded.
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