The Maritime Organization of West Africa and Central Africa (MOWCA) last week launched its Information and communication (CINFOCOM) Centre to ensure networking of maritime administrations in its member states and to create the database to combat piracy.
Ivorian Minister of Transport, Gaoussou Touré at the inauguration stressed that “at the time of the new information technologies and communication, the Centre” is no doubt, an asset for the 25 member countries of MOWCA.” He urged that the CINFOCOM “is used wisely for the benefit of member states of MOWCA,” saying that the Center is an essential element in the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.”
This center allows all members to have access to a server in the member countries and to exchange information on the situation at sea “so that each country is better informed and better equipped in its strategy against piracy and other armed robbery, terrorism and acts of sabotage,” said the Secretary of MOWCA, Alain Michel Luvambano.
Explaining the operation of the Centre, Mr. Luvambano stated that “when a ship is attacked, the information is posted in the system … information becomes immediately visible in all states connected to the network, and will enable them organize the required response according to the location of the ship. “
According to him, “ultimately, the information posted in the system will be accompanied by satellite images including facial recognition.” He said “this option will come fairly expensive to organization, which is why a round table of donors will be held in November to raise the sum of 800 billion FCFA.”
He said this safety response will “cut piracy at the root” to “prevent pirates and bandits to organize. He said surveys show that security breaches that occurred in the Gulf of Guinea do not have political motivations and record very few cases ransom.
Such investigations lead to the conclusion that attackers are more interested in cargo and high-value items they can sell in local markets.
