Tanzania has ordered its army to act as armed guards or escorts on board ships and vessels searching for oil off its coast.
The prime minister, Mizengo Pinda told parliament on the weekend that increased pirate attacks have compelled Tanzania to upgrade its security offshore. “The first step has been to provide escorts to vessels that request security assistance when they enter our territorial waters and the second is for the government to provide protection to vessels exploring for gas and oil in our ocean,” he said.
Tanzania has ordered its army to act as armed guards or escorts on board ships and vessels searching for oil off its coast.
The prime minister, Mizengo Pinda told parliament on the weekend that increased pirate attacks have compelled Tanzania to upgrade its security offshore. “The first step has been to provide escorts to vessels that request security assistance when they enter our territorial waters and the second is for the government to provide protection to vessels exploring for gas and oil in our ocean,” he said.
Tanzania has licensed 17 international companies to search for oil or gas offshore and onshore. Somali pirates have meanwhile made a number of incursions into Tanzania’s zone of influence at the head of the Mozambique Channel. This has included several attacks on ships and yachts which has effectively made the region a no-go zone for most cruise ships and for the yachting fraternity. The region between Zanzibar, the Comores and Seychelles was a favourite haunt for recreational boating but is now considered a high risk area.
Tanzania also made a request to South Africa to assist with naval patrols in the area. Partly as a result of this a South African Navy frigate is currently on patrol in the northern parts of the Channel.
And following this, a maritime security alert has been issued for the coast of. The move is to protect vessels from pirate activity.
Attacks have fallen in the waters directly off the east coast of Africa over recent weeks but incidents are likely to resume once again over the coming weeks. April and May have traditionally seen Somali pirate activity spread further south in the Indian Ocean.
Tanzania has licensed at least 17 international companies to look for offshore and onshore energy reserves. Those working at sea are advised to take maritime security into consideration.
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