Gard highlights Gulf of Guinea dangers

Marine insurer Gard has reiterated its advice that vessels in the Gulf of Guinea region should operate with a heightened level of security, following two piracy incidents in three days off the coast of Togo and Benin, both involving crews being taken hostage. It noted that, according to the International Chamber of Commerce International Maritime Bureau (IMB), in 2019 to date the Gulf of Guinea region had accounted for almost 90 per cent of crew taken hostage and more than 80 per cent of crew kidnappings globally.