The COVID-19 pandemic has created important challenges in terms of coordinating work on safety and security within the Central and West African common maritime space. To address this, IMO helped set up a new video conferencing service for the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC) in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The new system, fully installed since 18 December, allows regional stakeholders to continue their activities using web-based interactive video and maintain connectivity with partners in the region. This will enable the ICC to continue its work on the sustainable implementation of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct (YCOC).

The Code’s primary objective is to manage and reduce adverse impacts derived from piracy, armed robbery against ships and other illicit maritime activities, such as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The new equipment was purchased by IMO and partly funded with contributions from the United Kingdom and the West and Central Africa Maritime Security Trust Fund.