Piracy is a phenomenon widely known among the shipping industry. Private maritime security companies (PMSCs) in order to limit or/and eliminate piracy incidents, in high risk areas (HRA), provide, upon agreement, merchant vessels with armed guards on board.
Nigerian Navy enhances maritime security
The Nigerian Navy (NN) has made efforts to police its waters more effectively by placing floating operating bases in the Delta and coupled with a new monitoring process supplied by the US Navy. Also, NN calls for MoU holding PMSCs to provide dedicated patrol boats which then will be manned, flagged and armed by the NN escorting merchant vessels within the territorial waters of Nigeria. These boats should be painted in Nigerian Navy colors, should be inspected and approved by the NN and should be capable of carrying much heavier weapons.
The water sea space that Nigeria is responsible for police actions is formed by:
- Territorial Waters: Every part of the open sea within twelve nautical miles of the coast of Nigeria (measured from low water mark) or of the seaward limits of inland waters (as per Territorial Water Act 1967).
- Exclusive Economic Zone: An area extending up to 200 nautical miles seawards from the coasts of Nigeria (As per Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1978).
Nigeria’s restrictions on armed security
Nigeria’s Navy strictly forbids the security armed guards from PMSCs or the country’s own police on merchant vessels within Nigeria’s waters despite the high level of piracy in West Africa.
Nigerian Navy provided clarifications concerning the matter. More specifically, NN’s intention is to set a stop to non-compliant maritime security activities in Nigeria and makes it clear that armed guards, including the Nigerian Navy guards, are no longer allowed on board merchant vessels.
The NN allows only naval guards to operate in the area and on board Nigerian naval-operated armed vessels as mentioned before. They warn that if any vessel found with armed guards on board, will be detained and if the guards are from the Navy, then they will face sanctions.
Actions required
Ship managers and operators should stay alert when operating in Nigerian responsibility waters, (Territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone). Any Document or paper that covers the use of armed escorts or guards by ships should be authenticated with the Nigerian Navy.
Additionally, ship managers should:
- Provide every vessel with an effective Ship Security Plan
- Follow the recommended maritime security transit corridors in the high risk areas.
- Follow best practices (as required in BMP-4) and consider the use of embarked armed security
- Have their crews adequately trained and familiarized with any protective measures on board
You may find further information at SAFETY4SEA
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