The latest ICC IMB global report on piracy and armed robbery recorded 37 incidents in the first three months of 2022 – compared to 38 incidents in the same period last year – of which nearly half (41%) occurred in Southeast Asian waters, particularly in the Singapore Strait. In comparison, there has been a welcome decrease in reported incidents in the Gulf of Guinea region with seven incidents reported since the start of the year.

Sustained efforts are however necessary to ensure the continued safety of seafarers in the West African region which remains dangerous as evidenced by the hijacking of an oil tanker off the coast of Côte d’Ivoire on 24 January, during which all 17 crew members were taken hostage. Armed robberies have also been reported in the anchorage waters of Angola and Ghana.

Worldwide, this is the first quarter since 2010 where no crew kidnappings have been reported, although violence and threats against crews continue with 23 crew members taken hostage and four others threatened.

Efforts to continue in the Gulf of Guinea

Thanks to the efforts of maritime authorities in the region, no crew kidnappings were reported in the waters of the Gulf of Guinea in the first quarter of 2022. This is a welcome change from the 40 kidnappings of crew during the same period in 2021. The efforts of the and international navies also resulted in a reduction in reported incidents from 16 in the first quarter of 2021 to seven during the same period in 2022. The IMB Piracy Reporting Center however urges coastal response agencies and independent international navies to continue their efforts to ensure piracy is continuously combated in these high-risk waters.

The threat to innocent seafarers remains and is best illustrated by a recent attack where a Panamax sized bulk carrier was boarded by pirates 260NM off the coast of Ghana on 3 April. This shows that despite a decrease in reported incidents, the threat of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and crew kidnappings remains.

Upon being informed of the incident, the IMB Piracy Reporting Center immediately alerted and contacted regional authorities and international warships to request assistance. An Italian Navy warship and its helicopter immediately intervened, rescuing the crew and allowing the vessel to proceed to safe harbor under escort.

The IMB Piracy Reporting Center salutes the prompt and positive actions of the Italian Navy which undoubtedly saved the crew and the ship.

Incidents on the rise in the Singapore Strait

Nearly 30% of all reported incidents globally since the start of 2022 have been against ships sailing through the Singapore Strait. Although these are considered low-level opportunistic crimes and fall under the definition of armed robbery teams, they continue to be at risk. In the 11 incidents reported in these waters, two crew members were threatened and one was held hostage throughout the incident. It has also been reported that in at least one incident a gun was used to threaten the crew.

IMB Director Michael Howlett said:Perpetrators are armed in most incidents, putting crews at risk even in low-level opportunistic incidents. Coastal States are urged to redouble their efforts to identify and apprehend these criminals in order to enhance maritime security and facilitate safer trade on these important and strategic waterways.”

Outside the Singapore Strait, information sharing cooperation between the Indonesian Marine Police and the IMB Piracy Reporting Center continues to yield positive results with only four incidents reported off the coast of Singapore. Indonesia and Malaysia, compared to two over the same period in 2021.

Peruvian waters remain a concern

As a region, ports in South America account for 27% of global incidents, with 10 reported occurrences. In particular, the Callao anchorage in Peru remains a concern, with six incidents reported in the first three months of 2022, compared to five incidents in the same period last year and just one in 2019.

Three incidents were also reported at the Macapa anchorage off Brazil. In two of these incidents, the crews were either threatened or taken hostage, threatened with knives, tied up with their faces covered in burlap for the duration of the incident.

The threat remains in the Gulf of Aden

Although no incidents have been reported there since the beginning of the year, the threat of piracy still exists in the waters off the southern Red Sea and in the Gulf of Aden, which includes the Yemeni and Somalis. Although the chance of incidents has diminished, Somali pirates continue to possess the ability and capacity to conduct incidents, and all merchant vessels are urged to adhere to the recommendations of the latest best management practices, while transiting these waters. .

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