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27 Jul 2020 / Benin

New anti-piracy measures

Below are the key points of the Benin Government circular raised and signed by four ministries, the following new measures and conditions are implemented to protect merchant vessels against piracy:

  • Article1: Obligation to all vessels calling Cotonou to have on board an armed security team (AST). Vessels that do not deploy an AST on board should compulsorily be protected by Benin navy forces when entering the country’s territorial waters. The cost is €534 per day for vessels under 100 meters LOA, and €687 per day for vessels over 100 meters LOA, applicable to all vessels awaiting berth readiness. €763 euros for vessels under 100 meters LOA and €946 per day for vessels over 100 meters LOA where the owners choose to remain at anchorage. All costs to vessel account at calling port.

  • Article 2: All vessels calling Cotonou and having an AST on board should send to port authorities through their agent authorisation to enter Benin waters with an armed security team. This authorisation must be sent 72 hours prior to vessel arrival.

  • Article 3: Authorisation to enter Benin with an AST is not an authorisation to stock arms and ammunitions in Benin. All vessels arriving with an AST should sail out the team and all the arms. Once alongside, all the arms and ammunitions should be inspected by Benin army forces and sealed. The seals should be removed once vessel is ready to sail out. The cost of the inspection is €306.

  • Article 4: Anchorage safety zones:
    Point A: 06 deg. 16’N / 002 deg. 28’E
    Point B: 06 deg. 11’N / 002 deg. 28’E
    Point C: 06 deg. 11’N / 002 deg. 23’E
    Point D: 06 deg. 16’N / 002 deg. 23’E
    Movements into the above zone are coordinated by Cotonou signal station. Vessels without AST on board waiting at anchorage should proceed to above delimited zone under Cotonou signal station instructions and embark local national armed guards (LNAG).

(For information about operations in Benin, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at [email protected])

Source: OMA Benin - GAC agent

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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