Increase in piracy off West Africa (1)

1 July 2011

On 17 June 2011, the London P& I Club reported an increase in pirate activity in the waters off Benin.  Since then the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (click here for a link to their website) has received reports of a further three incidents involving tankers off Cotonou.  In one case, a vessel was captured, in the other two the focus was theft of personal effects and valuables.  In each case the vessels were boarded during darkness and whilst undertaking or preparing for STS operations.

Members are encouraged to review their anti-piracy arrangements against the backdrop of this escalating frequency of attacks in waters off Cotonou, Benin.