Piracy Incidents on the Rise

The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) recently released the "Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships" report for the first three quarters of 2007, which states that "Piracy and armed robbery attacks against ships rose 14% in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period in 2006." So far this year, 198 attacks were reported, up from the 174 reported in the first nine months of 2006. Fifteen vessels have been hijacked and172 crew members taken hostage, 63 of whom were kidnapped and 21 assaulted. According to an article on the IMB Web site, this "second consecutive quarterly increase in attacks" is at least partly do to the coastal waters of Somalia and Nigeria becoming "ever more dangerous."

The IMB article describes some of these Somali pirate incidents: "Somalia remains a hotspot of great concern, with 26 incidents reported so far this year against eight the year before. This represents one of the highest numbers of attacks ever reported off the coast of this East African country, and highlights a blatant disregard for the law. Ransom demanded by the captors of hijacked ships are considerably higher than previously, noted IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan."

The Nigerian pirate attacks are also expressed in detail in the IMB article: "Attacks have also risen sharply in Nigerian waters, with 26 incidents reported to the IMB compared to 9 during the corresponding period in 2006. Criminal groups claimed to have political motives for the theft and abduction of crewmembers. Nigeria has set up a Maritime Guard Command to help increase safety and security along the country’s coastline."

There was also an increase of piracy incidents in Tanzania -- nine reported this year, up from the four in 2006. However, there has been a decrease in attacks in the Malacca Straits, which the IMB article states is "due in large measure to cooperation among states bordering these waters and stepped-up efforts by the Indonesian authorities." Apparently Thailand has recently agreed to start patrolling this area as well.

Though the situation is improving in the Malacca Straits, the IMB feels that other organizations must get involved in order to stop this increasing trend in other parts of the world: "The IMB backs an initiative by the International Maritime Organizations to refer the situation to the UN Security Council, and sees this as a much-needed initiative to reduce acts of piracy and armed robbery."

To order the free report, please visit the IMB's publication page here.