**Executive Summary**
This Maritime Security Advisory, issued by the Directorate General of Shipping on May 8, 2019, addresses the increasing piracy and armed robbery attacks in the Gulf of Guinea and their impact on Indian seafarers. The advisory restricts Recruitment and Placement Services License (RPSL) agents from engaging Indian seafarers on vessels trading solely within the ports of the Gulf of Guinea. All stakeholders are advised to take note of the information and act accordingly.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea:**
* Piracy and armed robbery attacks are becoming more violent, including attacks on vessels and kidnapping of crew.
* Attacks have been reported up to 170 nautical miles from the coast.
* Pirates often hijack vessels for several days, ransack them, and steal cargo.
* Ship crewmembers have been injured, kidnapped, or taken ashore for ransom.
* **Incident Statistics:**
* From 2009 to 2018, there were 555 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery in West Africa.
* 81 incidents were reported in 2018, reflecting an increase from 49 incidents in 2017.
* 2018 saw the highest number of episodes, with 3 ships hijacked and 86 crew held hostage.
* **Selective Targeting:**
* There is an increasing trend of incidents occurring within the jurisdiction of the Coastal States of the Gulf of Guinea.
* Foreign nationals, especially Indian seafarers, are being selectively targeted during piracy/armed robbery incidents.
* **Restrictions on Engagement:**
* RPSL agents are instructed NOT to engage any Indian seafarers on coastal vessels trading solely within the ports of Gulf of Guinea (Benin, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea).
**Impact Analysis**
**RPSL Agents**
* **Impact:**
* RPSL Agents must be cognizant of the increasing piracy activity in the Gulf of Guinea and the directive from the Indian Directorate General of Shipping. The directive restricts their ability to provide Indian seafarers to coastal vessels trading solely within Gulf of Guinea Ports.
* **Action Required:**
* RPSL Agents need to comply with the directive and refrain from engaging Indian seafarers on coastal vessels trading solely within the listed Gulf of Guinea ports.
**Indian Seafarers**
* **Impact:**
* Indian Seafarers should be cognizant of the increasing piracy activity in the Gulf of Guinea. There may be a reduction in employment opportunities on coastal vessels operating exclusively in the Gulf of Guinea.
* **Action Required:**
* Indian Seafarers need to be aware of the risks associated with piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
* Indian Seafarers may need to be cautious about accepting employment opportunities in areas with significant pirate activity.
**Ship Owners, Ship Managers, Shipping Agents, Ship Masters, Seafarers, Charterers, Ship Builders, Ship Breakers Association, Classification Societies Recognized by Directorate General of Shipping, Non-exclusive Survey Companies, Insurance Companies, Coastal State including Administrations of Union Territories/Islands and Maritime Boards.**
* **Impact:**
* This segment of stakeholders needs to be cognizant of the increasing piracy activity in the Gulf of Guinea.
* **Action Required:**
* All concerned stakeholders are advised to take note of the information provided in this advisory and act accordingly.
Key Entities Referenced
Gulf of Guinea: The region where piracy and armed robbery attacks on vessels are occurring, leading to the advisory.
Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai: The issuing authority for the circular, responsible for maritime safety and security.
Maritime Security Advisory 03 of 2019: The main subject matter: Restriction in engaging Indian seafarers on vessels trading solely in Gulf of Guinea.
RPSL agents: Recruitment and Placement Services License agents, instructed not to engage Indian seafarers on vessels trading in the Gulf of Guinea.
Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS): System used to report incidents of piracy and armed robbery.
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DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI
F. No. 35-NT(04)/PRY/20 1 8 D.ate - Q8.Q5.2019
NT Wine Piracv Circular No. 03 of 2019
Sub.: Maritime Segurit), Advisory 03 of 2019: 'Restriction in engaging Indign se?&rers on
vessels trading solely in Gulf of Ggine.e' - re,g.
For the attention of Ship Owners, Ship Managers, Shipping Agents, RPSL Agents, Ship
Masters, Seafarers, Charterers, Ship Builders, Ship Breakers Association, Classification
Societies recognized by Directorate General of Shipping, Non-exclusive Survey
companies, Insurance Companies, Coastal State including Administrations of Union
territories/Islands and Maritime Boards.
1.
Piracylarmed robbery attacks in the Gulf of Guinea are becoming more violent with a
greater tendency to attack, hijack and rob vessels as well as. kidnap crew, in the waters of
Gulf of Guinea. These attacks having also been reported up-to 170 nautical miles from the
coast. In many of these incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, pirates have hijacked the vessel for
several days, ransacked the vessel and stolen part cargo (usually gas oil). Additionally, in
these past attacks, ship's crewmembers have also been injured, kidnapped and in certain
occasions taken ashore for ransom.
2. As per IMO promulgated reports of attempted attacks by pirates and armed robbers
via the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS), the sum total of the number
of incidents of piracy and armed robbery in West Africa, as reported to IMO in the l0-year'
period from I January 2009 to 31 December2018, was 555. Additionally, the number of acts
of piracy and armed robbery against ships in West Africa as per GISIS covering the period
1
January to 3 I Decemb er 201 8 was 81 and reflected a comparable increase frbm 49 incidents
reported in 2017. During these ten years, 2018 also shows the highest in the number of
episodes, with 3 ships reported hijacked and 86 crew held hostage in that year.
3.
Additionally, there appears to be an increasirig trend in the number of incidents taking
place inside the various Coastal States jurisdiction in the Gulf of Guinea. From two recent
incidents, it has come to the attention of this Directorate that foreign nationals especially
Indian seafarers are being selectively targeted during such piracylarmed robbery incidents.
4. Accordingly, all RPSL agents are instructed to not engage any Indian seafarers on
coastal vessels trading solely within the ports in Gulf of Guinea (i.e. Benin, Ghana, Togo,
Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea). A11 concerned stakeholders are also
advised to take note of the informationprovided inthis advisory and aet accordingly.
5.
This is issued with the approval of the Director General of Shipping.
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