The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) is concerned about the increase in piracy and armed robbery. Freight owner Herbjorn Hanson tells of armed guards on his carriers.
in april can International Maritime Office (IMB), affiliated with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), has reported the fewest number of pirate attacks at sea since 1993. Now it’s different.
In its biannual report, the organization expresses concern about an increase in pirate attacks and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa and in the Singapore Strait in Southeast Asia.
The report stated that 65 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were recorded in the first half of 2023, an increase from 58 incidents for the same period in 2022.
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Almost all ships sail between Europe and China through the Singapore Strait, and routes bypassing West Africa are also frequently used.
Of the reported incidents, 57 ships were boarded by pirates, four attacks attempted, two hijacked, and two shot.
Large ships passing through the crowded Singapore Strait are often attacked by pirates, according to the IMB. Noting a 25 percent increase in accidents in the region, the organization has asked neighboring countries to take action.
“The escalation of reported incidents, including hostage situations and crew abductions in the waters of the Gulf of Guinea, is concerning,” IMB chief Michael Howlett wrote in the report.
– The IMB calls for a continued strong regional and international maritime presence, as a deterrent to deal with these crimes, he says.
Serious development
– We’ve seen a huge increase recently in Southeast Asia, along with the tendency of pirates to become more violent. We have seen an increase in cases involving hostages and armed pirates, says consultant Simon Bristow-Hee at Norwegian insurance company Hull Club and adds:
– This is a dangerous development.
Consultant Simon Prestø-He at the Norwegian Hull Club (NHC) confirms that different types of events occur in different regions.
In Southeast Asia, there are robberies and armed robberies, as pirates board ships that are sailing or that are often anchored. In the Singapore Strait, crime is often found for profit.
He works in the emergency department at NHC. The company has the most coverage for physical damage to ships, but also provides coverage for crew kidnapping.
More opportunistic attacks
In West Africa, piracy is the biggest threat to seafarers, according to Bristow-He. Occasionally, pirates may escape with ships to steal the goods on board. He’s noticed a change in the criminals’ pattern lately.
– In West Africa, in addition to crime for profit, there is a great focus on kidnapping teams for ransom. In this area, Prestø-He says, we’ve seen pirates become more violent and more determined in their attempts.
– In the past three years, attacks have seemed more opportunistic than planned and streamlined as before, he says.
He believes that there are several reasons for this, such as the increasing presence of international military ships, and the shift from criminal activity to oil when oil prices were high.
From a longer perspective, however, the increase over the past six months is less dramatic, according to the advisor.
– It is more stable after the decline in the past three years, he says, adding:
– Until 2020, there was a very large amount of piracy activity in West Africa than today, and a very large number of pirates were doing hijackings.
Prestø-He contends that there are underlying reasons why people engage in piracy. Internal conditions within countries are often the cause, and structures are very difficult. According to him, those at sea are often just a small piece in the larger game.
Get armed guards on ships
Herbjørn Hansson, president of Nordic American Tankers (NAT), says he is fully aware of the situation, but has not heard of the eruption.
– We always take all necessary precautions to protect the crew, the ship and the surrounding environment, says the ship owner.
– He adds: We have armed guards on all ships.
His company transports oil on tankers all over the world. Hanson is the founder, chairman, and general manager of the New York Stock Exchange-listed shipping company.
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