Gulf of Guinea Plans to Enhance Maritime Security

International Maritime Organization (IMO) is supporting countries from the Gulf of Guinea region in their plans to enhance maritime security.

Participants from 10 countries - Benin, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal and Togo, as well as international partners such as INTERPOL and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office - are taking part in a workshop in Monterey, USA (6-10 August) on developing and refining their work plans.  

This includes introducing new topics directly related to the successful implementation of maritime security strategies – such as negotiation skills for secure political and inter-Ministerial cooperation.

The workshop, which includes a field trip to the US Coast Guard Monterey Station, is organized by the US Department of State funded Center for Civil Military Relations (CCMR). It is the second of three events. A workshop in Abidjan was held in March 2018 and the final event is due to take place in Yaoundé in March 2019. IMO is represented by Gisela Vieira.

IMO facilitates this by helping Member States enhance their maritime security, focussing on what the civil maritime stakeholders, which includes both the shipping and port sectors, can do to protect themselves and to assist governments to protect global maritime trade.

IMO responds to maritime security threats in two ways: by developing appropriate regulations and guidance through its Maritime Safety Committee and Facilitation Committee; and through capacity-building work.