Piracy and Maritime Terrorism, West Vs East Africa

For West Africa-- its mainly HIT AND RUN.

Meaning they are only interested in the cargo, not the hull and the kidnapping of the crew.
Sometimes ransom is taken-- about 8-10M USD per hull-- tanker sized please.

For Somali waters-- hijacks progress to moving crew to land while hull remains in port.
This means we are dealing with a kidnap and hijack at the same time.
Rest assured that if your insurance firm, if you used one at all, will not be happy to max out your policy just for one very VIP customer like you.

Do contact us to let us advise you on your security requirements.
Prevention is better than the cure as they always say.

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IMB notes increase in piracy off West Africa coast

by ASC Staff on Sep 9, 2012 

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The ICC International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB-PRC) has recorded a spike in activity off the coast of West Africa, logistics firm GAC reported on its website.
Since 18 August 2012, three vessels have been hijacked by pirates in this region. These recent attacks are notable as they have all been against tankers, with the purpose of stealing the valuable cargoes on board.
Furthermore, the incidents reported off West Africa are characterised by the degree of violence used against crew.
On 18 August 2012, a tanker was hijacked whilst at anchorage off Lome.
Another tanker was attacked nearby on 28 August 2012. On 5 September 2012, a tanker was boarded whilst at anchorage off Lagos. In the last case, the crew secured themselves in the vessel's citadel whilst the Nigerian navy despatched a helicopter and warship to successfully rescue the vessel.
IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan said: "The attacks off West Africa follow a different modus operandi from pirate activity in other parts of the world. In addition to armed robbery, the more serious attacks involve the hijacking of product tankers to steal a part of the cargo. All the attacks usually involve high levels of violence against the crew. After the hijacking the product is lightered on to smaller vessel to be taken and sold illegally in the region. There has long been a market for the distribution and supply of these illegal oil cargoes."