BMP West Africa

Counter-piracy guidance for the Gulf of Guinea, currently 'Global Counter Piracy Guidance for Companies, Masters and Seafarers' (2018) issued jointly by ICS, BIMCO, OCIMF, and INTERTANKO. The Gulf of Guinea threat picture differs from the Indian Ocean — typically armed boarding for kidnap-for-ransom rather than ship hijack. The guidance emphasises liaison with regional authorities (MDAT-GoG, the Yaoundé Architecture), bridge and citadel hardening, and avoiding standard ambush areas off Nigeria and adjacent waters. Vessel reporting and naval coordination differ from the Indian Ocean BMP regime.