The service, which will be staffed by ex-armed forces personnel from British and other armies, will operate between the Ivory Coast and Cameroon, made infamous in recent months by an increasing volume of piracy attacks.
As Eos indicates: “In 2011 there were 25 reported incidents in the Gulf of Guinea. But in 2012 there were 32 incidents in this area which shows a worrying increase.
“This rise in attacks corresponds with a decrease in Somali piracy which confirms the suspicions held by international authorities who has suspected a growth in piracy off the coast of West Africa. This rise in attacks which includes hijackings poses a threat to shipping in that area and requires a professional risk assessed response.”
Ivory Coast piracy shows no signs of abating in 2013 either, with the hijacking of French tanker M/V Gascogne, and injury of two of its sailors, at the beginning of February. The vessel has subsequently been released.
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