BMP West Africa - Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy and Enhance Maritime Security off the Coast of West Africa including the Gulf of Guinea

This guide has been produced to assist ships and seafarers understand the complex and dynamic maritime security situation off the West Coast of Africa and to help them avoid becoming the victims of maritime security incidents in these waters. It aims to help ships plan their voyage and to detect, avoid, deter, delay and report attacks.

The maritime security situation off the West Coast of Africa is complex and dynamic. BMP ­West Africa (WA) has been produced to help ships and seafarers avoid becoming the victims of maritime security incidents in these waters.

This publication aims to help ships plan their voyage and to detect, avoid, deter, delay and report attacks. Experience has shown that application of the recommendations in this publication makes a significant difference to the safety of seafarers.

The BMP contained in this publication mitigate the risk from piracy and armed robbery. However, differences in attack methods from other threats may require other forms of mitigation.

The consequences of not adopting effective security measures can be severe. Some pirates have subjected crew to violence and other ill treatment and extended periods of captivity. Other attacks have demonstrated an intent to damage ships, seize the cargo and endanger life.

Other maritime crime in the region, such as the trafficking of firearms, humans and narcotics, migrant smuggling and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, can contribute to insecurity.

The Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade-Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) (https://gog-mdat.org/home) website should be consulted for advice. See annex A for contact details.

This BMP complements piracy guidance in the latest International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Resolutions and Circulars (www.imo.org).

The fundamental requirements of BMP

Section 1 – Introduction

Section 2 – The threat

Section 3 – Threat and risk assessment

Section 4 – Planning

Section 5 – Ship Protection Measures

Section 6 – Reporting

Section 7 – Ships under attack

Annexes:

Annex A – Contact details
Annex B – Maritime security charts
Annex C – Common understanding
Annex D – MDAT-GoG reporting forms
Annex E – Other maritime security threats
Annex F – Additional guidance for vessels engaged in fishing
Annex G – Additional advice for leisure craft, including yachts
Annex H – Definitions and abbreviations
Annex I – Supporting organisations