IBF statement on the security situation in Nigerian waters

21 February 2008

The IBF (International Bargaining Forum http://www.imec.org.uk/ibf.php), a consultative body that brings together shipowners and seafarers' unions, has issued the attached guidelines after a meeting in Berlin yesterday which considered the ITF's (International Transport Workers' Federation) request that Nigerian waters be declared a war zone (a move that is reflected by allowing seafarers to decline service in the affected zone [eg Somalia] and to receive a "danger money" bonus). In this case statistics prepared by IMEC (the International Maritime Employers' Committee) concerning the security incidents in Nigeria over the past two years, fell short, in their view, of full warlike conditions. As a result the IBF has approved action falling short of the original request, and instead proposing the following security guidelines and action plan:

Security Situation: Nigeria

On 6 February ITF sent a letter to the JNG Secretariat concerning the security situation in Nigeria. The letter referred to the Rules and Procedures of the IBF Warlike Operations Areas Committee and pointed out that Nigeria appeared on both the Hull War Trading Warranties list and the list of no-travel countries issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Canada. In addition, the letter enclosed additional information about the situation circulated by the Norwegian Maritime Directorate and the POEA. In these circumstances, ITF requested an “emergency consultation” on the situation by the Committee.

The JNG Secretariat responded that this issue should be discussed by the joint secretariats at a meeting already scheduled for Berlin on 19 February.

During this discussion, ITF emphasised the seriousness of recent incidents in Nigerian ports, the fact that several seafarers appeared to have been injured in these attacks and the fact that the POEA had placed a ban on deployments of Filipino seafarers to Nigeria. ITF therefore considered that Article 17 of the IBF Framework TCC should be invoked and Nigeria declared to be an area of warlike operations.

The JNG Secretariat responded that a detailed analysis of the incidents in Nigeria revealed that most could not be considered to constitute acts of war, they were confined to relatively small areas and did not in the main constitute a serious risk to international merchant shipping.

Following this meeting it was agreed that, at this stage, the IBF should issue the attached Security Guidelines and IBF Action Plan and bring this to the attention of the ITF and JNG constituents. 

Security  Situation: Nigeria 

IBF Security Guidelines

And

IBF Action Plan

 

Scale of The Security Problem

An analysis of reported incidents in Nigeria conducted by IMEC suggested that the number of shore and sea-based incidents involving abductions (and subsequent release after payment of ransom) of foreign workers had increased from 72 in 2006 to 172 in 2007. No abductions have been made in 2008, but an Argentinean aircrew member was shot and killed on the main road to Lagos Airport on 6 January in what appears to have been an attempted robbery.

So far as maritime-related incidents were concerned, the IMEC analysis suggested that there had been 21 such incidents in 2006, 14 in 2007 and 4 in 2008. However, most of these incidents affected small craft associated with the oil industry and rigs, pumping stations and other fixed oil installations.

While one IMEC member reported nearly 50 vessel calls in various Nigerian ports over the past six months without any security problems arising, there have been at least four incidents in the past two years involving deep sea commercial merchant ships. One of these incidents, in January 2006, resulted in the abduction of a full Filipino crew that were subsequently released unharmed.

While the number of incidents is currently, therefore, relatively small, extreme vigilance is recommended in visiting Nigerian ports, particularly in the most affected areas.

Location of The Incidents

For deep sea merchant ships, it appears that the ports of Warri and its approaches via Forcados, and Bonny, Onne and Port Harcourt are the areas where extra security should be exercised, as well as the Niger Delta areas of Nunn, Fishtown and Brass.

The Filipino crew that was abducted as reported earlier, were seized in the Chanomi Creek, which connects the Escrados and Forcados Rivers near Warri. Other recent incidents affecting merchant shipping have occurred in the Bonny waterway near Onne and Port Harcourt.

The major ports of Lagos and Appapa have not experienced any reports of security incidents. However, there have been reports of incidents involving oil industry craft some considerable distance offshore from Bonny, Forcados and Escrados

Security Guidelines

Companies operating vessels or installations in Nigeria or offshore that are involved with the oil industry will have introduced their own security arrangements to safeguard their personnel given the nature of the risk and their detailed local advice. These recommendations therefore only apply to operators of deep sea merchant ships that may call at a Nigerian port in the course of a normal international voyage.

1. Ships should normally operate as if the ship security plan level 2 was in effect. In the ports of Warri, Bonny, Onne and Port Harcourt, and the waterways and approaches to these ports, including offshore, it might be appropriate to implement higher security measures.
2. If ships are in a liner service with regular port calls in the worst affected areas, detailed local advice about the security situation should be obtained and arrivals and departures timed to coincide with security patrols operated by Nigerian Government forces.
3. Shore leave should be restricted to the absolute minimum and in the less secure ports mentioned above, it should be prohibited altogether.
4. Normal crew changes should not be effected in Nigeria unless absolutely essential.
5. Regular liaison should be maintained with seafarers families to advise them of the security measures being adopted to safeguard ships crew.

IBF Action Plan

It has been agreed that:

1. The IBF should write as a matter of urgency to the Nigerian authorities urging them to increase security in port areas and approaches.
2. The IBF should write to the authorities in the Philippines to seek clarification of the most recent Advisory Notice concerning deployments to ships in the liner trade
3. The security situation in Nigeria should be closely monitored and in the event of any deterioration that could affect seafarers serving on deep sea merchant ships these Guidelines should be reviewed and amended as necessary.

ENDS

For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Web: www.itfglobal.org

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