West Africa concerns

Management company Africa Risk Compliance (ARC) has welcomed recent comments on the issue of who should be responsible for ensuring the security of ships operating in West Africa. It was reportedly stated on the sidelines of the Safety At Sea Conference that if navies cannot take measures to provide security to ships then private companies should be allowed to do so. Michael Wingate, CEO of ARC, praised the industry for raising the issue, saying shipping needs to act in support of the provision of security in the region. Wingate said: “The cost of the provision of security is being driven down by security companies competing for business; the shipping industry is going through a difficult period and then you have the added factor of the cost also being driven down by shipping companies, which ultimately means a lack of investment in security at a time when the industry is demanding exactly that.”