Africa’s biggest yearly maritime safety seminar began in Ghana today in the middle of a sharp increase in piracy and also heists in the Gulf of Guinea over the last 12+ months.
Hosted by the Ghanaian Navy and also Air Force in Accra from July 6-8, the International Maritime Defense Exhibition and also Conference (IMDEC 2021) has actually combined a number of West African Chiefs of Naval Staff and also federal government leaders such as the Vice President of Ghana, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, along with specialists from global police and also the economic sector as intensifying maritime safety dangers remain to influence waterborne business each time when the sector in Africa was currently weathering the financial shocks of the COVID-19 break out (a current record by UNCTAD approximated the decrease in Africa’s exports at -35%).
These circumstances suppressed West African profession and also transport and also highlighted a preparedness space in African maritime facilities throughout the continent at huge, requiring an industry-wide rethink of contemporary maritime safety and also sustainability, stated international aerospace and also innovation firm Paramount Group, an enroller of the occasion. They have actually highlighted a seriousness behind cultivating higher development and also Pan-African cooperation and also a requirement to push resiliency despite a myriad of dangers, the firm included.
Eric Ichikowitz, s enior vice head of state of Paramount Group, stated “As the world reeled from the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, often unreported was the landmark year for piracy and the rise in threats to maritime security. With nearly 200 incidents of piracy having taken place in 2020 alone, the highest number of total piracy attacks over the last three years, it is now more important than ever that African navies and the maritime industry come together at IMDEC, to engage in the necessary, constructive discourses to reinforce Africa’s primary gateway to the global marketplace.
“Over 90% of maritime kidnappings worldwide last year were reported to have taken place in the Gulf of Guinea. This is a staggering statistic that specifically impacts foreign direct investment, intra-African trade and our blue economies, representing the future potential of Africa’s maritime and coastal waters.
“We are proud to support our hosts, the Ghanaian Navy and Air Force, by sharing best practices and showcasing innovative, localized solutions to the threats facing Africa’s maritime industry. Furthermore, we are looking forward to spotlight breakthroughs in emerging counter-piracy operations primed to better safeguard the 6,000-kilometer Gulf of Guinea coastline for the preservation of our continent’s vibrant blue ocean economies.”
In the location’s 2nd performance, IMDEC 2021 will certainly contain panel conversations, outbreak sessions and also VIP exhibit walk-throughs of Ghana’s Air and also Naval bases, in addition to personal vessel trips to additional show the innovative capacities of Ghana’s Naval and also Air Force fleets, with the country’s navy having just recently commemorated its 60 wedding anniversary.
According to Paramount Group, IMDEC works as a prompt chance for the thousands of guests getting involved to acquire direct understanding, share their item offerings and also review the capacity for boosting the performance and also flexibility of aquatic vessels, reducing the impacts of COVID-19 on future maritime safety procedures and also profession, executing brand-new modern technologies and also business remedies to adjust to contemporary obstacles, centering manufacturing and also improving mechanical repair service and also overhaul (MRO) solutions throughout the Gulf of Guinea via calculated financial investments and also overviewing interagency techniques to higher local collaboration.
Ichikowitz Expects IMDEC 2021 “will foster newfound dialogue and best practices in how to expand the physical assets under African navies’ commands, as well as our continent’s ability to coordinate joint naval activities and inter-agency information sharing, to the benefit of the Gulf of Guinea and beyond.”
