Piracy: The IMB's Annual Piracy Report for 2022 shows a further decline in the number of attacks. The security measures have proven their worth and remain necessary.
The statistics on the global Piracy of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in London has been published since 1990. It is the most reliable barometer of current developments, even if it does not record all cases, as only cases that are reported to the organisation are registered. In 2022, 115 incidents were recorded worldwide, compared to 132, 195 and 162 incidents in the previous three years. From a global perspective, this is an encouraging development, as in the years 2009 to 2011, well over 200 incidents were recorded in the waters of the Horn of Africa alone.
There were 107 successful boardings in 2022, often in roadsteads, less often at sea, but mainly under cover of darkness. There were two ship hijackings worldwide, 41 seafarers were taken hostage and two others were kidnapped for ransom. Overall, the kidnapping figures show a clearly positive trend in the medium term. No seafarer was killed in the registered attacks in 2022. Nevertheless, in all cases regularly reported by Pirate activities In the waters affected, safety measures in accordance with best management practice are still recommended.
Hotspots
In Asian waters, the figures are largely encouraging. 60 attacks were reported in 2022. There were 59 in 2021, 78 in 2020, only 62 in 2019 and 85 in 2018. The only striking development is the poor performance in the Singapore Strait, which has shown an unbroken upward trend since 2018. There were 38 reports in 2022, 35 attacks in 2021, 23 in 2020, only 12 in 2019 and just three in 2018.
India and Bangladesh do not fall into this category. Ten incidents were recorded there, which is roughly the same number as in 2018.
Falling numbers are reported from the coastal waters around the Gulf of Guinea. From 84 incidents in 2020, the number fell to 35 in 2021 and 19 in 2022, although the two kidnappings reported worldwide took place in this region. There were no reports in 2022 for the waters on the coasts and in the deltas of Nigeria, which were considered a dangerous hotspot for years.
After the IMB received no reports in 2019 and 2020, and only a low number was announced to the public in 2021, it can be concluded for Somalia that the ongoing civilian maritime security measures (IMB best practice) are effective and should therefore continue to be practised. The German Navy has not been on the ground since 2021. It was in this sea area as part of Operation Atalanta, the first naval deployment under the umbrella of the European Union. Atalanta was based on the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in conjunction with several UN Security Council resolutions as well as a decision by the Council of the European Union in November 2008 and other decisions taken since then.
Michael Stehr
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