Piracy report reveals extent of the problem

Piracy on the high seas is
on the increase with last
year’s staggering figures
pointing to the highest
level of piracy in six years.
According to the ICC
International Maritime
Bureau’s (IMB) Piracy
Reporting Centre, a
total of 496 incidents of
piracy and armed robbery
occurred in 2009. And
with attacks more frequent
and violent across the
globe, experts are warning
shipmasters and owners to
be aware.
The last time piracy
figures crossed 400
incidents was in 2003.
2009 is also the third
successive year in which
the number of reported
incidents has increased.
There were 239 incidents
in 2006, 263 in 2007 and
293 in 2008.
A statement released by
the IMB this week reveals
that 153 vessels were
boarded worldwide, while
49 were hijacked. There
were 84 attempted attacks
and 120 vessels fired upon
compared to 46 ships fired
upon in 2008. A total of
1052 crew were taken
hostage, while 68 crew
were injured in the various
incidents and eight crew
were killed.
“The level of violence
towards the crew has
increased along with the
number of crew injuries,”
said IMB director, Captain
Pottengal Mukundan.
“We strongly urge all
shipmasters and owners
to report all incidents
of actual and attempted
piracy and armed robbery
to our piracy centre. This
is the first step in the
response chain and vital
in ensuring that adequate
resources are allocated by
governments in dealing
with the problem.”
Mukundan says
while there has been a
significant shift in the area
of attacks off Somalia – a
total of 111 vessels were
targeted by Somali pirates
resulting in 42 hijackings
in 2008 – the number of
incidents almost doubled
in 2009. “The number of
successful hijackings is
however proportionately
less and this can be
directly attributed to
the increased presence
and coordination of the
international navies along
with heightened awareness
and robust actions by the
masters in transiting these
waters.”
A total of 28 incidents
were reported for Nigeria
in 2009. Vessels attacked
included general cargo,
bulk carriers, reefers and
all types of tankers. The
majority of the incidents
were related to the oil
industry, according to
the report. “The Nigerian
attacks are much more
violent in nature than
Somalia, localised with the
capacity to attack vessels
and installations from
further from the coast.
The incidence of violent
attacks against ships has
also spilled over into
neighbouring states.”
Other areas where piracy
remains problematic is
the South China Seas
where 13 incidents were
reported, while incidents
in the Singapore Straits
increased to nine attacks.
Bangladesh and Indonesia
also suffered at the hands
of pirates. “There were
also several incidents
along the South American
coast where countries
affected are Peru, Brazil,
Colombia, Costa Rica,
Ecuador, Haiti and
Venezuela.”