Rising piracy incidents and hijacking off Somalia concerning - IMB
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has raised the alarm over an increase in maritime piracy incidents during 2023, including the first successful hijacking off the coast of Somalia since 2017.
PHOTO: Number of incidents reported in 2023 by types of attacks. IMB
A total of 120 incidents were reported in 2023, including boardings, attempted attacks, hijackings and fired-on vessels – five more than in 2022. Bulk carriers were predominantly targeted with 45 attacks, followed by tankers (34) and container ships (18). The remaining 23 attacks were on a mixture of other vessel types.
Somali pirates' continued threat
On 14 December, the Malta-flagged bulk carrier MV Ruen fell victim to pirates 700 nautical miles east of Bosaso, Somalia. Notably, two dhows were also hijacked subsequently. The IMB director, Michael Howlett, said the incident underscores the "continued capabilities of the Somali pirates." Vessel owners were urged to adhere to the latest best safety practices.
Regional hotspots and ongoing threats
The Gulf of Guinea saw 22 reported incidents in 2023, a slight increase from 19 in 2022, but significantly lower than during the peak year of 2020.
The Gulf of Guinea accounted for three of the four global hijackings, all 14 of the global crew hijackings and 75% of reported crew hostages in 2023.
Concerns also linger over the Singapore Strait and Indonesian archipelago, with a consistent number of incidents and a high success rate.
South America faces threats, too, with 14 reported incidents at the Callao anchorage in Peru, and other ports affected in Brazil and Colombia.
By Tuhin Roy
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