MARS705: Maritime Security and Risk Management – Assessment 1: Piracy and Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea (Research Essay)

Write a 1,800‑to 2,200‑word individual research essay that critically analyses piracy and related maritime security threats in the Gulf of Guinea and evaluates the effectiveness of regional and international responses.

Assessment context

The Gulf of Guinea has become one of the world’s main hotspots for piracy, armed robbery at sea and related maritime crime affecting container ships, tankers, offshore support vessels and fishing fleets. These incidents disrupt seaborne trade, increase freight and insurance costs, and undermine coastal states’ economic development strategies in West and Central Africa. Over the last decade, regional frameworks such as the Yaoundé Architecture, national maritime security strategies and external naval deployments have tried to address these threats, with mixed and uneven results.

Learning outcomes

• Identify and explain the main forms of piracy and maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea and their underlying drivers.
• Apply relevant international and regional legal frameworks to the analysis of maritime security in West and Central African waters.
• Critically evaluate the effectiveness of state, regional and international responses to piracy and armed robbery at sea.
• Integrate legal, operational and policy perspectives into a coherent maritime security analysis.

Task instructions

Write a 1,800‑to 2,200‑word essay that addresses the following overarching question:

To what extent have regional and international responses reduced piracy and maritime security threats in the Gulf of Guinea, and what gaps remain for commercial shipping and coastal states?

In your essay, you must:

1. 1. Provide a concise overview of piracy and related maritime security threats in the Gulf of Guinea, highlighting patterns of attacks, typical targets and main coastal areas affected.

[3][5][1][2]

1. 1. Explain the main legal and institutional frameworks that shape responses in the region, including relevant international law, regional agreements and national strategies where evidence is available.

[4][2][3]

1. 1. Assess at least two categories of response (for example national naval patrols and joint operations, regional coordination under the Yaoundé Architecture, external naval support, capacity‑building or industry‑led measures such as BMP‑type guidance) and evaluate their effectiveness using concrete examples.

[5][1][2][4]

1. 1. Discuss the implications of remaining security gaps for seafarers, shipping companies and coastal communities, and outline at least two realistic recommendations for strengthening maritime security governance in the region.

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Requirements

• • Word count: 1,800–2,200 words (excluding reference list). Indicate the final word count on the title page.
  • Format: 12‑point font, 1.5 line spacing, standard margins.
  • Referencing: APA 7th edition throughout.
  • Sources: minimum of ten credible sources, of which at least six must be peer‑reviewed journal articles or scholarly book chapters; the remainder may include reports from recognised organisations such as the UN, IMO, regional bodies, specialised security institutes or reputable NGOs.

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• Submission: upload a single Word or PDF file via the LMS by the end of Week 5 (23:59, course local time).

Suggested structure

• Introduction (approx. 10–15%): outline the Gulf of Guinea context, state the research question and present your main argument.
• Threat landscape (approx. 20–25%): describe patterns and drivers of piracy and related maritime crime in the region.
• Legal and institutional frameworks (approx. 20–25%): outline and briefly assess relevant international and regional arrangements.
• Response assessment (approx. 25–30%): evaluate selected responses, using specific cases and evidence.
• Implications and recommendations (approx. 15–20%): discuss ongoing risks and propose realistic improvements.
• Conclusion (approx. 5–10%): restate your position and reflect on broader implications for maritime security governance.

Marking criteria

1. Knowledge and understanding of context (25%)

• • Accurate and concise description of piracy and maritime security threats in the Gulf of Guinea, including patterns, targets and key drivers.

[2][3][5][1]

• Clear explanation of why this region matters for global and regional shipping.

2. Legal and policy analysis (25%)

• Correct use of relevant international and regional legal and policy frameworks.
• Evidence‑based assessment of how these frameworks shape or constrain responses.

3. Critical evaluation of responses (25%)

• • Balanced assessment of successes, limitations and unintended consequences of selected responses.

[3][4][5][1][2]

• Effective use of specific examples, case studies or data to support claims.

4. Use of evidence and academic writing (15%)

• Integration of a suitable range of scholarly and practitioner sources.
• Accurate and consistent APA 7th referencing.
• Clear, coherent academic writing with logical flow and appropriate paragraphing.

5. Originality and reflection (10%)

• Evidence of independent judgement and critical reflection.
• Consideration of uncertainties, contested issues and trade‑offs.

Example student response

Effective answers often start with a short, precise overview of where and how piracy and armed robbery occur in the Gulf of Guinea, for instance along the Nigeria‑to‑Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana‑to‑Angola axes, then connect those patterns to weak maritime domain awareness and coastal economic drivers. A strong discussion usually recognises that the Yaoundé Architecture, national strategies in states such as Nigeria and regional information‑sharing centres have reduced some types of attacks in specific zones, although incidents appear to shift geographically rather than disappear completely. It is useful to compare joint naval patrols and capacity‑building efforts with the constraints imposed by jurisdictional limits and resource gaps, which may prevent coastal states from sustaining offshore presence at the level risk profiles would justify. Good essays normally explain how shipping companies adapt through routing choices, contractual clauses and onboard security measures, while also acknowledging the human cost to seafarers who face kidnap‑for‑ransom and violent boarding attempts. A convincing conclusion tends to offer realistic, incremental recommendations that build on existing regional arrangements rather than proposing entirely new architectures that appear unlikely to gain political support in the short term.

To show deeper command of the subject, you could engage directly with recent empirical and qualitative studies on Gulf of Guinea piracy, for example work that examines how riverine criminal groups in the Niger Delta interact with political actors and oil theft markets. That kind of analysis helps you explain why purely naval solutions may reduce offshore incidents temporarily but leave the shore‑based parts of the piracy cycle largely untouched. You might also bring in comparative perspectives that look at differences between the Gulf of Guinea and the western Indian Ocean, particularly in the balance between regional ownership and external naval intervention, which could clarify what “success” could realistically look like in West and Central Africa. When you formulate recommendations, you strengthen your argument if you link them to existing initiatives, such as specific information‑sharing centres or capacity‑building programmes, rather than treating them as abstract, context‑free proposals.

References (APA 7th)

• • African Centre for Strategic Studies. (2015). Combating piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. https://africacenter.org/publication/combating-piracy-gulf-guinea-html/

[2]

• • Garba, B. (2022). Maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea with emphasis on Nigeria (Master’s dissertation, World Maritime University). World Maritime University Dissertations. https://commons.wmu.se/all_dissertations/3164

[3]

• • Kiut Journal of Management Studies. (2025). Maritime security threats in the Gulf of Guinea. Tanzania Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 4(1). https://journal.kiut.ac.tz/index.php/tzjms/article/view/149

[8]

• • ACCORD. (2024). An in‑depth analysis of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. https://www.accord.org.za/conflict-trends/an-in-depth-analysis-of-maritime-security-in-the-gulf-of-guinea/

[5]

• • Geneva Centre for Security Policy. (2022). Maritime Security: Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. https://dam.gcsp.ch/files/doc/policy-brief-1-maritime-security

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Assessment item: Assessment 2 – Policy Brief on Shipping Risk in the Gulf of Guinea

Assessment 2 for MARS705 will be an individual policy brief of 1,200–1,500 words that builds directly on your essay analysis. You will write a concise policy brief for a hypothetical shipping company or regional body that trades regularly through the Gulf of Guinea, summarising the current threat picture, key legal and operational constraints, and three prioritised recommendations for managing risk. The brief should be professionally formatted, use clear non‑technical language and follow a problem–analysis–recommendations structure, with targeted use of charts or tables if appropriate. Submission will be via the LMS at the end of Week 8, and the task will assess your ability to translate academic analysis into applied guidance for decision‑makers.