Dirk Siebels

University of Greenwich · Department of Law & Criminology

Maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea is often reduced to piracy and armed robbery at sea. The shipping industry, however, should take a more comprehensive view in a bid to sustainably address different types of threats in the maritime environment.

This presentation provides an overview of the privatisation of maritime security over the 15 years and the implications for governments as well as (small) navies and other security agencies. Governments in general and small navies in particular will be facing important challenges in the coming years. In a world of multifaceted threats and limited r...

Maritime issues in Africa have received additional attention in recent years. In 2014, the African Union adopted the 2050 Africa's Integrated Maritime Strategy, underlining the importance of the maritime environment for economic development. Providing security at sea is important to realise the potential of the 'blue economy'. Piracy off the Somali...

A presentation discussing recent political developments in terms of enhanced regional cooperation to strengthen maritime security. The presentation covers ECOWAS countries, e.g. Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria, as well as ECCAS countries, e.g. Cameroon, Gabon and Angola.

This presentation looks at limitations and restrictions for using private maritime security companies in the Gulf of Guinea, including the use of Safe Anchorage Areas (SAAs) and designated zones for ship-to-ship (STS) operations.

This book provides answers on how allies have to prepare for the strategic challenges in the maritime domain of the 21st century. 24 noted international authors, scholars and practitioners alike, refer to areas of operation and relevant trends and developments. They include the strategic consideration of NATO’s “Northern Flank” as well as an outloo...

This chapter concentrates on the current state of maritime security in East and West Africa. Several examples for efforts to improve security at sea through better cooperation on the regional level are provided, highlighting the shortcomings that have to be addressed in the coming years. It also stresses the lack of available data about even the mo...

In this chapter, the value of fish stocks for countries in East and West Africa and the devastating impacts of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing are covered. From an economic perspective, fish stocks are relevant because they provide a vital source of income for coastal communities where artisanal fishing is often one of very few em...

This chapter summarizes the main findings presented in this book. It emphasizes that the blue economy includes many facets—ranging from coastal tourism to deep-sea mining—which have only been partly covered here, yet should be investigated for an analysis on the national level. That might be particularly useful because policymakers and academics al...

Two key components of the blue economy are the main focus of this chapter: maritime trade and the exploitation of offshore oil and gas reserves. Both sectors share key characteristics and are influenced by various factors. Maritime security is an important aspect when large-scale projects in either sector are planned. Considering that both maritime...

Drawing on the research presented throughout the previous parts of the book, this chapter shows essential differences between East and West Africa which need to be noted in discussions about maritime security. At the same time, both regions share some key characteristics, for example the impact of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing t...

This chapter provides definitions for the geographical regions covered in this book and briefly discusses academic approaches to explain security integration within specific regions. It also introduces the concept of regional security complexes in relation to the analysis of security integration in East and West Africa. The concept is a helpful too...

‘In this century more than ever, the maritime governance discourse requires useful tools that point states and other actors in the best possible direction. This is what Dirk has done. He has not discussed maritime security in abstract: this book perfectly examines the critical linkages between good ocean governance, investment and durable maritime...

By and large, maritime security in Africa has been focused on counter-piracy operations in recent years. Governments in Africa, however, have to face many other maritime security challenges, ranging from smuggling of various goods to IUU fishing.

This paper provides a brief overview over maritime efforts of West African governments, ranging from the Yaoundé Code of Conduct to the establishment of multinational centres for coordination and information-sharing. Another interesting aspect is the role of the shipping industry in a region where maritime trade is forecast to grow enormously. The...

A presentation discussing the importance of the maritime environment for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Offshore oil & gas resources, IUU fishing or the effects of piracy on maritime trade are just some of the aspects that African countries have to address. Africa's Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS) 2050, published by the African Union, is an i...

A presentation discussing ongoing developments in the private maritime security industry, including unique insights into the use of armed guards onboard merchant ships. (Presentation given at University of Southern Denmark, December 2014)

The private sector has the potential to contribute further to Africa’s maritime security. Private maritime security companies can help to close short-term capability gaps, allowing African countries to develop their own naval abilities over time.

A look at Benin, Togo and Ghana, the three countries to the west of regional hegemon Nigeria, shows that the sea has vast economic potential yet there are many challenges. Pressure from the maritime and offshore industries could speed up necessary measures on a national level and, more importantly, facilitate enhanced regional co-operation. There a...

Private security companies have recently been the subject of increased attention not only because of their large-scale involvement in US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also due to the employment of privately contracted armed guards to protect ships, crews and cargoes at sea – particularly in the Gulf of Aden. Most of these operations, howe...