Increase in piracy

Figures from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), an organisational unit of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), show an increase in piracy attacks and armed robberies in 2020. Compared to 2019 with 162 pirate attacks, the number rose to 195 in 2020. The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) reports that three ships were hijacked and 11 ships were fired upon, 20 attempted attacks were successfully repelled and 161 ships were boarded. The rise is attributed to an increase in piracy attacks in the Gulf of Guinea and a growing number of armed robberies in the Singapore Strait.

Increase in incidents in the Gulf of Guinea

Worldwide, 135 crew members were abducted from their ships last year, with the Gulf of Guinea responsible for over 95 per cent of the abductions. This brings the total number of kidnappings in the region to a record 130, spread over 22 separate incidents. Since 2019, the Gulf of Guinea has seen an unprecedented increase in the number of multi-crew abductions. In the last quarter of 2019 alone, 39 crew members were kidnapped in two pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea.

Pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea are particularly dangerous as over 80 per cent of the attackers were armed, according to the latest IMB figures. All three ship hijackings and nine of the 11 ships shot at in 2020 were in this region. Crew hijackings were reported in 25 per cent of ship attacks in the Gulf of Guinea - more than in any other region in the world.

When crew are kidnapped, they are often taken from their ship to shore, where their release is negotiated. According to the IMB, the most distant kidnapping of crew members in 2020 occurred almost 200 nautical miles from the coast, with the average being 60 nautical miles.

"The latest statistics confirm the increased capabilities of pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, with more and more attacks taking place further from the coast. This is a worrying trend that can only be resolved through increased information sharing and coordination between vessels, reporting and response authorities in the Gulf of Guinea region. Despite prompt action by the region's navies, there is still an urgent need for action to combat this crime, which continues to have a direct impact on the safety of innocent seafarers," said Michael Howlett, Director of the ICC International Maritime Bureau. With this in mind, the IMB advises ships in the region to stay at least 250 nautical miles from the coast, or when carrying cargo, to seek a safe berth or anchorage.

The increase in incidents involving ships travelling in the Singapore Strait has continued since the fourth quarter of 2019, with 23 incidents reported in 2020. In 22 of the 23 incidents, the vessels were boarded. Although they are categorised as minor - i.e. aimed at armed theft from the vessel - and usually take place in the dark, one crew member was injured, another was taken hostage and two were threatened. Knives were reported in at least 14 incidents.

Reports of armed robberies in Indonesia remained steady with 26 reported minor incidents in 2020, compared to 25 in 2019. Ships continue to be boarded while anchored or berthed in Indonesian ports, with two crew members taken hostage and two threatened in 2020. According to the IMB, the ongoing efforts of the Indonesian maritime police are responsible for the fact that the number of reported incidents continues to decline.

The IMB PRC did not record any pirate attacks or armed robberies in Somalia in 2020. Nevertheless, the IMB PRC warns that pirates in Somalia still have the capability to carry out attacks in the Somali Basin and the Indian Ocean. In particular, the report warns that "masters and crew must remain vigilant and cautious when transiting these waters."

The IMB continues to encourage ship masters and owners to report all actual, attempted and suspected incidents of piracy and armed robbery worldwide to the IMB PRC. This first step in the response chain is crucial to ensure that authorities allocate adequate resources to combat piracy. Transparent statistics from an independent, non-political, international organisation can act as a catalyst to achieve this goal.

Text: ICC Germany/Dr Katrin Rupprecht; Photo: US Navy