Hauwa Ali
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB), a division of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), has released a report indicating a rise in acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Gulf of Guinea and Singapore Straits during the first half of 2023.
According to the IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre, there were 65 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery worldwide in the first six months of this year, an increase compared to 58 incidents during the same period in 2022. Out of these 65 incidents, 57 involved boarding of vessels, resulting in 36 crew members being taken hostage and 14 being kidnapped.
Expressing concern over the situation, IMB Director Michael Howlett stated that the growing number of reported incidents, including hostage situations and crew abductions, in the waters of the Gulf of Guinea is alarming. Howlett emphasized the need for sustained regional and international naval presence as a deterrent to combat these crimes.
Related Posts
In the Gulf of Guinea, there was a surge in maritime incidents in the first half of the year, comprising five incidents in the first quarter and nine in the second quarter. Among these, twelve were cases of armed robbery, while two were piracy incidents targeting ships at anchor in the region.
The piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea involved the kidnapping of 14 crew members, eight of whom were taken from vessels within territorial waters. Additionally, 31 crew members were held hostage in two separate hijackings where communication and navigation equipment were destroyed, and partial cargoes were stolen. One incident resulted in the abduction of six crew members.
Howlett urged authorities in the Gulf of Guinea and the international community to refocus their attention on the region and develop sustainable solutions to effectively address these crimes, safeguarding the seafaring and fishing communities.
The IMB report also expressed concern about a 25% increase in reported piracy incidents in the Singapore Straits compared to the same period last year. At least eight incidents reported weapons, posing a risk to crew members. The IMB appealed to coastal states to allocate resources to combat these crimes.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian archipelagic region experienced a decrease in incidents, with seven reported cases primarily involving vessels at anchor or berthed.
In South and Central America, 13 incidents were reported, accounting for 14% of global incidents. These included attempted boarding, hostage situations, and crew assaults and threats at Callao Anchorage in Peru, Colombia, Macapa Anchorage in Brazil, and Panama.
