2023 IMB Reports Show Increase in Piracy and Heightened Risks for Crews

According to the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Center, there was a slight increase in piracy incidents in 2023 compared to 2022, with 120 incidents recorded. The IMB highlighted several concerning trends, including an increase in crew safety concerns and the persistence of piracy hotspots. The Singapore Strait, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf of Guinea were identified as areas of particular concern, with the number of successful incidents and crewmembers taken hostage or kidnapped on the rise.

The IMB raised concerns about the Singapore Strait, where 67 of the reported incidents in 2023 occurred, involving low-level opportunistic crimes and armed pirates boarding vessels. They also noted the first successful Somali-based hijacking since 2017 and the potential use of hijacked dhows as mother ships for further attacks. The increase in crewmembers taken hostage and kidnapped, as well as the number of crew threatened, injured, and assaulted, was also highlighted as a cause for concern.

The Gulf of Guinea, specifically Ghana, and South America’s Callao anchorage were also identified as areas of looming threats, with a significant number of reported incidents in 2023. The IMB emphasized the importance of following safety protocols and reporting incidents to ensure an accurate understanding of the dangers. They called on masters and vessel owners to remain vigilant in the face of these concerning trends.

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