A Chinese longliner SHENGHAI2 was attacked by armed persons early in the morning hours of Friday 21st August 2020 on Freetown anchorage. According to maritime bulletin, the crew reportedly tried to thwart the attack with an ensuing fight that left several crew injured, including some seriously wounded. It is reported that the alleged pirates fled the ship and area after navy or the coast guard sent a team to assist the crew.
It is unclear what gave the alleged pirates the leverage to launch the attack, but they were effectively repelled. West Africa is becoming the world’s piracy capital. When it comes to discussing the concept of maritime security, the concept can be discussed in a variety of contexts. Broadly defined, maritime security concerns the protection of states’ land and maritime territories, and is affected by a broad range of illegal activities, including arms, drugs, and human trafficking, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and pollution at sea. But, such acts only tend to get media coverage when pirates are involved.
African maritime security is particularly severely affected by maritime piracy and armed robbery at sea. Maritime piracy is not a new phenomenon; it has existed for as long as people and commodities have traversed the oceans. Under article 101 of UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, piracy is defined as: “Any acts of violence, detention, or depredation committed on the high seas by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft against another ship, aircraft, persons, or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any state for private ends.”
Two maritime regions are chiefly troubled by maritime piracy: the Gulf of Aden to the East of Africa and the Gulf of Guinea to the West. The most common form of modern-day piracy and armed robbery at sea in both Gulfs is the hijacking of ships, with a focus on kidnapping and ransom payments. Aside from national and regional effects, maritime piracy and armed robbery at sea are considered a threat to the global economy.
Meanwhile, Longliner SHENGHAI2, MMSI 412201825, length 80 meters, flag China.
By Ophaniel Gooding