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During the Voyage

Speed
  • Increase speed to makes it difficult for an attacker to board. Attackers are more likely to target vessels that are stopped in the water.
  • Get underway and/or increase to a maximum safe speed as quickly as possible when a suspicious vessel is identified. This will open the distance from any possible attack and make the vessel more difficult to board.
Location and Time at Anchor
  • Keep time at anchor to a minimum
  •  Avoid setting patterns
  • Consider use of "safe anchorages" operated by some countries in the region, more information is contained in local Notice to Mariners or Admiralty Charts.
  • The location of the anchorage, STS operation and Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) are also important factors in mitigating risks against attacks on the vessel. Vessels are most vulnerable when stopped in the water, drifting, at anchor or carrying out Ship to Ship (STS) transfer, SBM operations or slowing down for pilot transfer.
STS Operation:
  • Vary the location of STS operations to avoid setting patterns which can be exploited by criminals.
  • When choosing the location for an STS operation check to ascertain whether it has recently been used – and vary the operating pattern to reduce risk.
  • Conduct STS transfer operations during daylight hours (where possible). Keep vessels unmoored and dispersed during the hours of darkness.
  • Ship operators should consider what security measures the STS Service provider will have in place for the operation. The Risk Assessment of the company providing the STS Service should be reviewed by the Company Security Officer and the vessels Master.
Coordinated Arrival
  • Masters should plan to arrive at the pilot station 'Just in Time'. Many vessels wait offshore and transit to meet the pilot at high speed. The period of highest vulnerability is the position where the vessel slows down to embark the pilot. Arriving 'Just in Time' is the accepted practice for many vessels operating in the GoG.
  • Do NOT Drift
Sea State
  • Criminal gangs are known to conduct attacks from small fast craft, often supported by larger mother ships. Operation of these small craft is usually limited to fair and moderate sea states. It is likely to be more difficult to operate small craft and board an identified vessel in sea state three and above. Conditions in the Gulf of Guinea are generally benign; the threat from small boats is always present.
Reporting
  • Register vessel movement, maintain regular contact with the CSO and provide regular reports to the MDAT - GoG. This will give Master's greater situational awareness and awareness of local activity.
  • Reports provided by vessels operating in the VRA will give regional authorities and agencies greater knowledge of activities in their areas of interest and help protect other seafarers.
Preventative Measures
Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade - Gulf of Gulf of Guinea

MDAT – GoG is a reporting mechanism supporting the interregional architecture defined by the Yaounde code of conduct. All merchant vessels within the Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA) are encouraged to report to it using the formats offered within this website. The key output from the MDAT – GoG is to maintain a coherent maritime situational awareness picture in the Central and Western African maritime space, with the ability to inform and support industry, contributing to the safety of the mariner.