All team kidnappings reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre throughout the very first 6 months of 2018 happened in the Gulf of Guinea in 6 different events, highlighting the consistent threat of maritime piracy and also heist versus ships in the area, the IMB stated in its 2018 first-half report.

An overall of 107 events were reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre from January via June of this year.

In total amount, 69 vessels were boarded, with 23 tried strikes, 11 vessels bombarded and also 4 vessels pirated.

No vessels were reported as pirated in the 2nd quarter.

The variety of team kidnappings reduced from 41 by the 2nd quarter in 2017 to 25 thus far in 2018. However, all 25 team kidnappings reported this year have actually happened over 6 events in the Gulf of Guinea, highlighting the greater dangers around, the record states.

The IMB alerts, nevertheless, that real variety of events in the Gulf of Guinea is thought to be “significantly higher” than what is reported.

Pottengal Mukundan, Director of IMB, stated: “The 2018 figures aptly demonstrate the value of timely and transparent reporting. The reports help to focus on risk areas, and to accurately inform vessels of evolving dangers and allow authorities to deliver an effective response.”

Fewer events in the Philippines and also off Somalia

Outside the Gulf of Guinea, the variety of 2018 events reduced in various other piracy hotspots.

There were no reported events videotaped off the coastline of Somalia in the 2nd quarter of 2018.

Masters are still prompted nevertheless to remain to preserve high degrees of alertness when transiting the risky location and also to comply with the current variation of the very best monitoring techniques.

The variety of events in the Philippines went down from 13 by the 2nd quarter of 2017 to 3 in the exact same period this year.

The IMB likewise complimented the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for the timely and also effective boarding of an item vessel which was under fire by armed burglars around 6 maritime miles East off Pulau Tinggi,Malaysia Fourteen burglars were apprehended for examination and also 2 were jailed in Indonesia by Indonesian Enforcement authorities.

The IMB’s complete record can befound here