The Ghana Shippers Authority says it is deeply worried about the increase in pirate attacks in the sub-region. It follows a sharp rise in the number of attacks in the waters off the sub-region in recent times. In the latest incident, a Cyprian vessel that was hijacked by pirates in Togo was over the weekend returned to the Tema Harbor with all twenty-six crew members said to be safe, though traumatized. Harbour Master at the Tema port, Captain James Owusu-Koranteng told Joy News the Ghana Navy is providing security for the vessel even as Spanish Embassy makes contact with the vessel owners to ensure their safe return. “They have actually come here as a safe haven, just to repatriate the crew that are actually very destruct, and then they will change the crew, bring in another crew before they proceed to the next port.” He remarked: “Naturally, they were traumatized but now they are feeling quite better…after we assured them that so far as they are in Ghana and in Tema Port, their safety and security is guaranteed.” Captain Owusu-Koranteng enumerated a number of measures being put in place to ensure their safety which includes the physical presence of the Ghana Navy at where they are and also warding off other vessels from getting close to them. Meanwhile, Kofi Mbeah, Chief Executive of the Ghana Shippers Authority said though the trend is disturbing, the appropriate agencies are on alert. He noted that these kinds of activities seriously affect their cost of doing business. “These things affect shipment and therefore the cost of doing business. Because insurance premium too go high; it also affects our sea ferries; it also affects general matters of the environment.” In a related development, Nigeria and Benin have begun joint naval patrols in an effort to combat the threat of pirates.