ABOARD THE HSV 2 SWIFT (AP) — Authorities are mounting a disjointed fight against piracy off Nigeria's coast as insurers say the threat has reached levels that rival lawless Somalia.
The West African coastline has seen increasing attacks on chemical and oil tankers. Those attacks have risen amid ongoing support from the U.S. Navy.
Those involved say the anti-piracy effort is hobbled by a failure of cooperation.
London-based Lloyd's Market Association, an umbrella group of insurers, recently listed Nigeria, Benin and surrounding waters in the same category as Somalia, where two decades of war and anarchy have allowed piracy to flourish.
The International Maritime Bureau says Nigeria and Benin reported 18 attacks in the first half of 2011. While smaller than figures seen in Somalia, analysts say attacks are underreported.