Despite general piracy events decreasing in 2019, there was a disconcerting boost in team kidnappings throughout the Gulf of Guinea, according to the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) yearly piracy record.

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In 2019, IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre got 162 events of piracy and also heist versus ships worldwide, in contrast to 201 reported events in 2018.

The events consisted of 4 pirated vessels, 11 vessels bombarded, 17 tried strikes, and also 130 vessels boarded, according to the most recent IMB numbers.

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While the general decrease in piracy events is a motivating growth, vessels continue to be in jeopardy in a number of areas, particularly the Gulf of Guinea.

Gulf of Guinea

The variety of team abducted in the Gulf of Guinea raised by greater than 50% from 78 in 2018 to 121 in 2019. This corresponds to over 90% of worldwide kidnappings reported mixed-up with 64 team participants abducted throughout 6 different events in the last quarter of 2019 alone. The area made up 64 events consisting of all 4 vessel hijackings that took place in 2019, in addition to 10 out of 11 vessels that reported coming under attack.

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“We remain concerned that this region has recorded an unprecedented rise in crew kidnaps. These latest statistics confirm the importance of increased information exchange and coordination between vessels, reporting and response agencies in the Gulf of Guinea Region. Without the necessary reporting structures in place, we will be unable to accurately highlight the high-risk areas for seafarers and address the rise of piracy incidents in these persistently vulnerable waters.”– Michael Howlett, Director of the ICC International Maritime Bureau.

Singapore Straits

Similarly, the Singapore Straits experienced an increase in heist strikes with 12 reported events in 2019, consisting of 11 in the last quarter of 2019. The very same area made up simply 3 events for the totality of 2018.

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IMB’s most recent numbers likewise report that vessels were effectively boarded in 10 events throughout the area in 2015. Despite this increase, IMB thinks about the strength of the strikes in the Singapore Straits to be ‘low level’ and also normally restricted to heist from the vessel. “This is a distraction and potentially dangerous for the crew in control of the vessel whilst navigating through these congested waters”, proceededHowlett “The IMB PRC is grateful to Singapore law enforcement agencies for responding promptly to some of these incidents.”

Indonesia

Armed burglary strikes in Indonesian ports are below 36 events in 2018 to 25 in 2019. Dialogue and also control in between the Indonesian Marine Police (RASCAL) and also the IMB PRC have actually brought about a reduction in local events, according to the record.

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Elsewhere, in the Indian sub-continent, Bangladesh reported absolutely no events for 2019. This is the very first time because 2015 that no piracy or heist events have actually been reported around Bangladesh

No events in Somalia, however dangers continue to be

Across the Indian Ocean, Somalia reported absolutely no piracy events, yet the IMB PRC recommends that vessels and also staffs continue to be mindful when taking a trip with the area. In certain, the record cautions that “Somali pirates continue to possess the capacity to carry out attacks in the Somali basin and wider Indian Ocean.”

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As with all piracy-related events, IMB advises all shipmasters and also proprietors to report all real, tried and also presumed piracy and also heist events to the IMB PRC. This initial step in the action chain is crucial to guaranteeing that ample sources are designated by authorities to tackle this criminal offense.

View the complete IMB record here

Reference: icc-ccs. org