Reported piracy and armed robbery incidents in the first six months of this year have fallen to their lowest level in 28 years, according to a top anti-piracy watchdog.
Some 58 incidents were reported in the January to June 2022 period – the lowest total since 1994 – according to the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
The IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) reported 55 vessels boarded, two attempted attacks and one vessel hijacked.
“Not only is this good news for the seafarers and the shipping industry it is positive news for trade which promotes economic growth,” said IMB director Michael Howlett.
But he warned that the areas of risk shift and the shipping community must remain vigilant, and he encourage governments and responding authorities to continue their patrols which create a deterrent effect.
“While the reduction in reported incidents is indeed encouraging, the IMB PRC continues to caution against complacency – vessels were boarded in 96% of the reported incidents,” it said.
“Despite no crew kidnappings reported during this period, violence against and the threat to crews continues with 23 crew taken hostage and a further five crew threatened.”
Of the 58 incidents, 12 were reported in the Gulf of Guinea, 10 of which defined as armed robberies and the remaining two as piracy.
In early April, a panamax bulker was attacked and boarded by pirates 260 nautical miles (480 km) off the coast of Ghana, illustrating that despite a decrease in reported incidents, the threat of Gulf of Guinea piracy and crew kidnappings remains, the IMB said.
The IMB said it urges the coastal response agencies and independent international navies to continue their efforts to ensure this crime is permanently addressed in these waters which account for 74% of crew taken hostage globally.
In Asia, the IMB said vessels continue to be targeted and boarded by local perpetrators when transiting the Singapore Straits, which account for over 25% of all incidents reported globally since the start of the year.
“The perpetrators were successful in boarding the vessels in all 16 incidents reported and while considered low level opportunistic crimes, crews continue to be at risk with weapons reported in at least six incidents,” the IMB said.
Outside the Singapore Straits, the Indonesian archipelagic has seen a slight increase in reported incidents for the first time since 2018, with seven incidents being reported compared to five over that same period last year.
Five vessels were boarded at anchor and one each while the vessels were at berth and steaming. Weapons were reported in at least three incidents with one crew reported threatened.
Although no incidents were reported there since the start of the year, the IMB said the threat of piracy still exists in the waters off the southern Red Sea and in the Gulf of Aden, which include the Yemeni and Somali coasts.
“Although the opportunity for incidents has reduced, the Somali pirates continue to possess the capability and capacity to carry out incidents, and all merchant ships are advised to adhere to the recommendations in the latest best management practices, while transiting in these waters.”
