Steady increase of piracy and sea crimes in African waters in focus at Cape Town event Some 600 maritime and naval experts are to meet in Cape Town from 25-27 November to discuss the price of piracy in Africa and the institutional and technical solutions available during the annual Maritime & Coastal Security Africa conference and exhibition. 

It is the largest maritime defence and security event on the continent. African navies restructuring long-term strategies Says event producer Tracey-Lee Zurcher:  “the high profile of Somali piracy and the gross proliferation of piracy in West Africa over the past year have brought the issue of African maritime security to the attention of world leaders.  In a response to this, African navies are restructuring their long-term strategies to include frequent littoral maritime patrols in high risk piracy zones.

Over and above the proactive response from the African maritime defence industry, shipping companies, the oil and gas sector and high-traffic African ports are also actively taking precautions.” She continues:  “secure ports and trade lanes are also quintessential to the development of African economies as 90% of trade in and around Africa is seaborne.  With a steady increase of piracy and sea crimes around the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Guinea affecting ports, trade lanes and the economies of surrounding countries, amplified maritime security for ports and shipping lanes has become a focus area for these entities.”

What does poor maritime security cost each year?

• Piracy off the Horn Of Africa costs the industry approximately $7-$12 billion per year
• Piracy off West African coastline has escalated dramatically in the past year, costing the shipping and offshore industry $1.2 billion in past year
• 851 seafarers attacked and pirates are currently holding 589 hostages
• Illegal fishing off the African coastline is costing the industry approximately $1 billion per year

Securing African sea and trade lanes
The African Union 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy has a remit to increase wealth creation from Africa's inland waters, oceans and seas by developing a sustainable blue economy in a stable, safe, secure and environmentally responsible manner.  The International Maritime Organisation has furthermore now extended its commitment to securing sea and trade lanes in Africa by developing a new Code of Conduct for West and Central Africa, similar to that of the Djibouti Code instituted in the East.

The South African Navy, as one of the leading navies in Africa, as well as top economic contributors, Nigeria, Angola and Ghana, have formally endorsed the Maritime & Coastal Security Africa conference and exhibition once again. Says Tracey-Lee Zurcher:  “South Africa and their maritime neighbours are all actively setting out acquisition requirements to procure inshore and offshore patrol vessels, which are the most cost-effective patrol solutions and are easier to navigate in shallow waters when pursuing high-speed targets in an asymmetrical warfare scenario, such as piracy.  Leading military suppliers including Saab, DAMEN, Denel, Abeking & Rasmussen, Barloworld Power and Selex are in attendance at the expo in Cape Town to display their technology and services.”

Maritime & Coastal Security Africa is proud to host senior representatives from leading navies and high-level decision-making governmental bodies at this year’s event, including:

• Samuel Kame-Domguia, Coordinator: 2050 Africa's Integrated Maritime Strategy Force, African Union, Ethiopia