An increase in pirate attacks off the coast of West Africa have led to Benin being added to the list of countries where additional war risks premium may be charged.

Two tankers have come under attack off Benin in recent weeks with this development sparking the decision by the London insurance market’s Joint War Committee to add the country to a list of high risk areas.

Nigeria and the Ivory Coast were already excluded areas, but the waters of Benin and Nigeria’s exclusive economic zones north of latitude 3oN in the Gulf of Guinea also now join the excluded areas.

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