With this update we would like to inform our members about the existence of a new maritime safety guideline for West Africa (WA), published by the International Group of P&I Clubs in cooperation with other shipping industry associations, and with the support of governments and military organisations.
The publication emphasises in particular the need for a Vessel Hardening Plan, which can ensure that vessels are properly prepared for operations in the Gulf of Guinea, where the threat level has recently risen significantly.
The BMP WA is a new addition to the well-established BMP series, which was last updated in June 2018, when the 5th edition was published. BMP5 is a compilation of comprehensive empirical guidelines for vessels transiting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea.
This latest BMP guideline complements the anti-piracy guidelines of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Resolutions and Circulars and can be found at www.imo.org
The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) website also contains a wide number of resources such as Advice to Masters, a Live Piracy Map/Report and Piracy Prone Areas, all of which can be found here.
We trust that this information is of assistance to our Members. In case of any specific questions or matters at hand we invite our Members to contact us at claims@nnpc.nl.