Anti-piracy measures for continent’s coastline discussed at Maritime & Coastal Security Africa

Increasing piracy and sea crimes on Africa's coastline as well as illegal fishing in South African waters will be amongst concerns raised by high-ranking navy and maritime industry leaders at the Maritime & Coastal Security Africa conference in Cape Town next week. Chief Director for Maritime Strategy at the South African Navy, Rear Admiral Bernhard Teuteberg, will deliver the military keynote address on the morning of Thursday, 8 November.

Measures by Africa for Africa"With the recent discovery of offshore oil and gas in East and West Africa, the necessary exploration activities have seen a proliferation of sea crimes and piracy affecting this lucrative business sector," says the event director Tracey-Lee Zurcher. She explains: "this not only hinders the process of timely mining and exploration, but costs the industry millions of dollars per annum in security, risk analysis and ransom payments. During the upcoming Maritime & Coastal Security Africa conference we will focus on building a collaborative understanding of what can be done by Africa for Africa in the constant battle against piracy in these oil-rich regions."

According to Tracey-Lee Zurcher, the multitude of challenges faced by maritime stakeholders includes securing African ports and sea trade lanes, combatting illegal fishing, pollution and smuggling. She adds: "the proliferated risk of piracy for international traders has taken its toll on African economies as 90% of trade in Africa is seaborne."

Speaker highlights:• Maritime Security in Africa: The need for greater coordination, integration of effort and collaborationRear Admiral Bernhard Teuteberg, Director of Maritime Strategy, South African Navy

• Keynote: Streamlining Maritime & Littoral (Sub) Regional Security InitiativesCol. Marco Hekkens, Researcher Project FUEL-L and Freelance Goodwill Ambassador of AMSSA

• Effective offshore patrol vessel design in order to deter piracy and other maritime security challenges specific to the African situationNiek Marsé, Project Manager ILS, DAMEN Shipyards

• Securing ports to support trade and logistics in developing economiesCaptain King Chiragi, Director of Maritime Safety and Security, Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority, Tanzania

• Preserving Africa's maritime resources for Africans, through cutting edge maritime situational awareness technologiesPanel Chair: R Adm Joe Nimmich USCG, (ret), Director, Maritime Surveillance and Security, Raytheon Homeland Security

• The reality of maritime security concerns for SADC portsMajor General Rodney Toka, General Manager: Security, Transnet

• Understanding the need to protect fisheries resources by integrating fully operational fisheries monitoring vessels in Southern AfricaKeith Govender, Acting Director: Fisheries Protection Vessels, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Event dates and location:8-9 November 2012, from 09h00: conference days

Location: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa

Website: www.maritimesecurityafrica.com