Marine piracy in the first nine months of 2021

The latest global IMB report on piracy reported 97 incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the first nine months of 2021. This is the lowest level of reported incidents since 1994. In 2021, the IMB Piracy Reporting Center reported 85 robberies on merchant ships, nine attempts at attacks, two ships were shot, one ship was hijacked.

In the article

According to the latest IMB statistics, the number of reported incidents has fallen to the lowest level in decades, but there is still violence against seafarers. 51 crew members were kidnapped, eight were taken hostage, five were threatened, three were injured, two were assaulted, and one person was killed.

IMB PRC warns that sailors should remain vigilant because violence against crews remains high in many regions of the world.

Fall in piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea

In the Gulf of Guinea, 28 incidents of piracy and armed robbery were reported in the first nine months of 2021, compared to 46 in the same period of 2020. Most importantly, Nigeria reported only four incidents in the first nine months of 2021, compared with 17 in 2020 and 41 in 2018. Crew kidnappings in the region fell in the 3rd quarter of 2021. Only one crew member was kidnapped, compared to 31 crew members kidnapped in five separate incidents in the 3rd quarter of 2020. According to IMB, all incidents in the 3rd quarter of 2021 also concerned ships at port anchorages, and the average distance in which successful hijackings occurred in the 3rd quarter of 2020 was approximately 100 nautical miles from land.

According to IMB, the overall reduction in piracy and armed robbery incidents in the region is a testament to increased maritime protection and response coordination measures adopted by regional and national authorities. Despite these favourable forecasts, the report warns that the risk to crews remains high in the region and that is why captains and crew of ships must remain vigilant and cautious when sailing in these waters.

"We welcome the decline in the number of attacks on piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea and the efforts made by the maritime authorities in the region," said Michael Howlett, Director, International Maritime Bureau of the ICC. "However, constant efforts are needed to ensure the continued safety of seafarers who transport essential goods throughout the region. Coastal states must double their coordination and security measures to ensure a further decrease in the number of piracy incidents and armed attacks on merchant ships."

Disturbing signals in the Singapore Strait

20 armed robbery incidents have been reported in the Singapore Strait – this is the highest number recorded since 1991. Reported incidents in the Singapore Strait increased from 15 in 2020 and only one incident in 2019. These attacks are low and opportunistic, but the report warns that the perpetrators pose a direct threat to seafarers and ships in the region. In four incidents, the crew was intimidated, assaulted or injured.

Anxiety off the coast of Peru

Kotwicowisko Callao w Peru to kolejny obszar, na którym odnotowano wzrost incydentów piractwa. W 2021 roku zgłoszono 15 incydentów pirackich, co stanowi najwyższą liczbę od 1991 roku. Podobnie jak w Cieśninie Singapurskiej, incydenty te są kradzieżami na niskim poziomie, przy czym w 60% przypadków odnotowano użycie noża. Piraci w tym regionie są zdolni do przeprowadzania brutalnych ataków. Napastnicy w tym regionie posiadają zdolność do niebezpiecznych ataków, czego efektem są trzy porwania członków załóg i jednej nieudanej próby w pierwszych dziewięciu miesiącach 2021 roku.

Improving the situation in Indonesia

IMB poinformowało o zauważalnym zmniejszeniu liczby zgłoszonych incydentów na wodach indonezyjskich. W pierwszych dziewięciu miesiącach 2021 roku zgłoszono tylko sześć niegroźnych incydentów, w porównaniu z 23 incydentami w tym samym okresie w 2020 roku. Jest to najniższa łączna liczba zgłoszonych incydentów piractwa w Indonezji od 1993 roku. W sprawozdaniu pochwalono politykę i proaktywne środki reagowania wdrożone przez indonezyjską policję morską – poinformowało IMB w swoim sprawozdaniu PRC.

IMB reporting centre on piracy

Od momentu powstania w 1991 r. IMB PRC pozostaje pojedynczym punktem kontaktowym, w którym można zgłaszać wszelkie przestępstwa piractwa morskiego i rozboju. IMB PRC jest czynne 24 godziny na dobę. Niezwłoczne przekazywanie raportów i współpraca z agencjami reagowania, przekazywanie informacji do żeglugi morskiej za pośrednictwem GMDSS Safety Net Services oraz wysyłanie ostrzeżeń pocztą elektroniczną do organizacji społeczeństwa obywatelskiego – tego rodzaju zadania należą do IMB PRZ. Raport jest bezpłatny, pomaga w zwalczaniu piractwa i rozboju na morzu oraz w zapewnienia bezpieczeństwa marynarzom na całym świecie.

Autor: CC-CCS/MD