As a result of the recent increase of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea, governmental
authorities of Bénin have taken pre-emptive measures to prevent such attacks in their
territorial waters through a new decree, Concerning Means of Protection of Ships in the
Territorial Waters of Bénin.
Any ship bound for a port in Bénin with an armed protection team on board, is required to
send through its ship agent, a request for permission to enter Benin’s territorial waters with its own armed onboard protection team.
The application for entry into Benin’s territorial waters is a form that must be completed online and sent to the Director of the port of call at least 72 hours before the vessel arrives. Further details and requirements are detailed in the Decree.
