Following the increasing rate of piracy and hijacking of the crew for ransom in Nigerian waters, especially in the Gulf of Guinea, Indian Directorate General of Shipping in Mumbai, has issued a restriction on all seafarers who are Indian nationals, banning them from working in vessels in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.
In a circular sent to all shipping owners, shipping companies and other practitioners which was signed by the Director-General of Shipping in India, Capt Anish Joseph, the state reportedly observed that there was an increasing trend in the number of incidents taking place inside the various coastal states jurisdiction in the GoG.
It also alleged that from two recent incidents, it had become clearer that foreign nationals, especially Indian seafarers, were being selectively targeted during piracy and armed robbery incidents in the GoG.
Apart from Nigeria, the Indian Shipping Directorate also instructed manning agents not to engage any Indian seafarers on coastal vessels trading solely within the ports of GoG including Benin, Ghana, Togo, Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Read more
