From Oil Bunkering to Kidnapping for Ransom: an Exploration of Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea
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From Oil Bunkering to Kidnapping for Ransom: An Exploration of Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea Researched by An Overview: Gulf of Guinea piracy in 2021 2020 saw the highest number of total pirate attacks for the last three years, with 195 incidents occurring globally. While these attacks include low- level cargo thefts and at-anchor robberies, the trend of kidnapping crews at gunpoint is on the rise. Last year, 22 separate incidents saw 135 crew members kidnapped. All but five of the kidnapping victims (95% in total) were taken from vessels traversing the Gulf of Guinea. The gulf has experienced nearly a 50% increase in kidnapping for ransom incidents between 2018 and 2019, and a further 10% increase between 2019 and 2020. The Gulf of Guinea is a crucial maritime trading route. The number of fishing vessels, tankers and cargo ships navigating its waters on a daily basis routinely exceeds 1,500. At the same time, the gulf covers 880,000 square miles and is bordered by over a dozen West African countries, creating opportunities for gaps in naval patrols and other difficulties in naval logistics, jurisdiction and communication. Together, these factors make this important stretch of water a magnet for piracy activities. Throughout 2020 and early 2021, those activities have increased in scale, severity and audacity. Many pirate groups have graduated from oil bunkering – the armed robbery and/or siphoning of oil cargoes (previously a staple money-making activity) – to fully seizing vessels and kidnapping their crew. Kidnapping and ransoming crews has become a more lucrative piracy strategy since the oil price crash of 2014, with average ransoms of $50,000 per crew member now a reality. Flashpoints: Major piracy incidents from 2020 to date • Container ship Atlantic Discoverer boarded by men with AK47s. The ship is locked down and Ghanaian Navy arrive JAN in time. All crew are safe. 2020 • Danish tanker Nord Stingray is boarded at anchor. Armed assailants are driven off and jump into the water. A Nigerian patrol boat searches the area but finds nothing. • In a sustained gun battle, pirates kill 2 crew members of FEB an oil tanker and 4 Nigerian soldiers from its military escort. 2020 • Chemical tanker Richmond is boarded at anchor. Ships stores and valuables are stolen. • A Portuguese container ship is seized and seven crew APR kidnapped. • Panama-flagged tanker Vemahope is boarded and 10 2020 crew members are kidnapped. They are freed within 21 days; no details of a ransom are released. • A Senegalese fishing vessel is attacked, boarded and 3 MAY crew are kidnapped. • Chinese fishing vessel Hailufeng 11 is boarded by 10 2020 armed pirates. A Nigerian Navy patrol vessel intercepts and arrested all 10 pirates, while rescuing all the crew. • 6 crew are kidnapped from a Ghanaian fishing vessel off JUN the coast of Benin. • Tanker Ayberk Bay is boarded by 7 armed pirates, 2020 assaulting 5 crew members while stealing cash and belongings. • FPSO Sendje Berg is boarded and 9 crew are kidnapped. They are released unharmed in August 2020. JUL • Tanker MT Curacao is boarded by 8 pirates armed 2020 with machine guns. 13 crew are kidnapped and ship’s documents and valuables are stolen. The crew are safely released the following month. AUG • A Ghanaian fishing vessel is attacked. 2 crew members 2020 are kidnapped. SEP • A Liberian-flagged cargo ship is attacked, with 2 crew kidnapped. Nigerian Navy personnel secured the 2020 remaining crew. • A Liberian-flagged Heavy Load Carrier is boarded by pirates who open fire on the vessel, injuring one crew NOV member. 14 crew are kidnapped and later freed. 2020 • General cargo ship AM Delta is assaulted by 8 pirates armed with assault rifles. Ship’s valuables are stolen and 5 crew are abducted. JAN • Container ship Mozart is seized, pirates kidnap 15 and kill one crew member. The remaining crew are freed two weeks later, 2021 though no confirmation is made about a ransom being paid. MAR • Maltese-flagged chemical tanker MT Davide B is boarded with 15 crew kidnapped. At the time of writing, they remain in captivity 2021 as hostages. West Africa’s Response: Emerging counter-piracy plans and operations Expanding efforts and resources of Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Safety and Security (YAMSS): Signed in 2013, The Yaoundé Code of Conduct was an essential step towards a unified maritime security effort in the Gulf of Guinea. The mission of YAMSS remains the same today: member states all share information on pirate activity, coordinate their actions, strengthen anti-piracy laws and work together to close down areas of vulnerability. Current priorities for improving the YAMSS framework include clearer delineation of maritime borders, greater interagency cooperation and agreed command and control structures for vessels passing from one nation’s waters to the next. Cooperation between GoG navies is already improving, with several high-profile anti-piracy operational successes in 2019 and 2020 being attributed to nations’ combined vessel actions and information sharing. International cooperation: Strategic talks are ongoing towards the securing of more international naval assistance, modelled on the success of anti-piracy operations and patrols undertaken between 2001-2012 in offshore Somalia. The French and Italian navies both sent vessels to the Gulf of Guinea to support regional counterpiracy and maritime security efforts in early to mid-2020. Ghana’s increased Maritime Security Exercises: The Ghanaian Navy is spearheading new efforts to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA), information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise in the Gulf of Guinea through a range of international naval exercises. March 2021 saw Ghana host Obangame Express 2021 (OE21), the largest maritime exercise in Western Africa. Nigeria’s ‘Deep Blue’ Project: In 2019, the Nigerian Maritime Administration Support Agencies (NIMASA) established the Deep Blue Project (DBP). The project is a formalised maritime security act designed to acquire the necessary assets, equipment, training and infrastructure to combat piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. All Nigerian anchorages now fall under DBP jurisdiction and its operators are expanding both the physical assets under their command, as well as their ability to coordinate inter-agency information sharing between GoG nations. The Long Road to Containing Piracy: Key regional counter-piracy procurements SENEGAL OPV purchase: TOGO In late 2019, Senegal IVORY NIGERIA contracted French firm Piriou to COAST GHANA provide three 58 S-type OPVs for an undisclosed purchase sum. The first vessel was launched in October 2020 and the remaining two will be constructed and delivered by mid-2024. The OPV Air Force 58 S is a 62-metre vessel dedicated modernisation: Togo’s to surveillance, identification and air force is in the intervention missions, making it process of taking perfectly suited to counter-piracy. delivery of four SA342L1 Gazelle helicopters from French company, SECAMIC, as well as procuring two Mi-17-1Vs Two new OPV 45s: June 2020 saw Israel from the Ukraine. These Shipyards receive the contract for additions will give the the construction of two new OPV-45 Togolese Air Force the vessels for the Ivory Coast Navy at an necessary platform for undisclosed price. The OPV-45 was capable patrol and only launched by Israel Shipyards in light-attack operations. 2019, and it is a highly versatile vessel, ANGOLA well suited to anti-piracy operations, intervention force boarding/landing, Deep Blue Project Procurements: close-range naval combat operations, Nigeria’s DBP was budgeted and enhanced search and rescue at $195 million and awarded to missions. It is fast at a sustained Israeli firm HLSI Security Systems and speed of 24 knots, and has a suite Technologies Limited. Key assets of advanced, automated weapon included in this major procurement stations, electro-optics, radar and include new naval helicopters, maritime communication systems. surveillance jets, drones (armed and surveillance) and HSPV (High-speed patrol Edzinlibo Forward Operating Base: Late vessels), as well as Special Mission Vessels 2019 saw Ghana invest $200 million for the and the establishment of C4i Centres and construction of an FOB at Edzinlibo to launch a new Satellite Communication Centre. The counter-piracy operations and protect its oil procurement with HLSI also involves extensive and gas infrastructure. Construction on the training programmes for Nigerian naval base started in Jan 2020. personnel and information centre staff. Six new OPVs for Ghanaian Navy: Part of Air Force procurements: In 2018, Nigeria and the $200 million investment in the Edzinlibo Pakistan agreed to the $184.3 million sale of three base involves the procurement of six new JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft for Nigeria’s air force. 11-metre Phantom patrol boats, which were Not long before, Nigeria also agreed to a $593 million contracted to Hawkmoor Co. A further two purchase from the United States, including 12 A-29 offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) have been Super Tucano light-attack aircraft. Delivery of all ordered from an undisclosed provider. these aircraft is slated for this year, along with the Together, these eight vessels will significantly additional training of 200 Nigerian Air Force personnel. reinforce the Ghanaian Navy’s patrol fleet, which currently stands at 23 vessels. New shipyard, patrol boat and helicopter investments: Angola has been greatly expanding its naval and air force capacity over the past five years. A major $585 million deal with UAE-based Privinvest was signed in 2016 to construct a new shipyard in AngASS also supplying three HSI 32 patrol craft, one a long range OPV and another short-range patrol vessel. The ships started arriving in 2019 and the remainder should be in service before 2022. In a separate deal with Whitehead Sistemi Subacquei, the Angolan military purchased two patrol boats, various radar equipment and six new helicopters (four AW139s and two A109Ks) for around $9 million.