Piracy on the rise, warns Maritime bureau

The ICC International Maritime Bureau reported an increase in maritime piracy in 2023, with 120 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships compared to 115 in 2022. Of these, 105 vessels were boarded, nine attempted attacks, four vessels hijacked, and two fired upon. The number of crew taken hostage and kidnapped also increased from 41 to 73 and from two to 14 in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

The first successful Somali-based hijacking in years was recorded on 14 December 2023, with Somali pirates hijacking a bulk carrier and two dhows off the coast of Somalia. Three of the four reported hijackings occurred in the Gulf of Guinea, accounting for 75% of reported crew hostages and two injured crew in 2023. The Singapore Straits, Malacca Straits, and Indonesian archipelago also saw an increase in reported incidents, with the latter experiencing a year-on-year increase from 10 in 2022 to 18 in 2023.

The IMB director, Michael Howlett, urged caution for crew safety and called for all masters and vessel owners to continue following the recommendations and reporting procedures as per the latest version of the Best Management Practices. The bureau also expressed concern about the late reporting and underreporting of incidents, emphasizing the importance of timely reporting to contribute to a more accurate understanding of risk.

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