Walking the Plank: Is This The End of Piracy?

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Sea piracy has reached its lowest level in six years, with 264 attacks recorded worldwide in 2013, a 40 percent decrease from 2011, according to the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce International Maritime Bureau(IMB).

According to Government Security News the drop can be attributed largely to a decline in piracy off Somalia, which recorded 15 incidents in 2013, down from 75 in 2012 and 237 in 2011.

More than 300 people were taken hostage at sea last year and 21 were injured, nearly all with guns or knives, according to the IMB’s annual global piracy report. A total of 12 vessels were hijacked, 202 were boarded, 22 were fired upon, and 28 reported attempted attacks. Nigerian pirates were particularly violent, killing one crewmember, and kidnapping 36 people to hold onshore for ransom.

The drop in Somali piracy has been caused by factors including deterrence by international navies, the hardening and protection of vessels, the use of private armed security teams, and the stabilizing influence of the Somali government, according to the IMB.

“The single biggest reason for the drop in worldwide piracy is the decrease in Somali piracy off the coast of East Africa,” said Pottengal Mukundan, IMB director. But he said it is imperative to continue international anti-piracy efforts off Somalia. “Any complacency at this stage could re-kindle pirate activity.”

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

The 15 incidents attributed to Somali pirates last year include two hijacked vessels, both of which were released within a day as a result of naval actions. A further eight vessels were fired upon. These figures are the lowest since 2006, when 10 Somali attacks were recorded.

Meanwhile, West African piracy made up 19 percent of attacks worldwide last year. Nigerian pirates and armed robbers accounted for 31 of the region’s 51 attacks, taking 49 people hostage and kidnapping 36, more than in any year since 2008. Nigerian pirates were linked with at least five of the region’s seven reported vessel hijackings. Off the coast of Nigeria itself, two ships were hijacked, 13 were boarded and 13 fired upon.

Two product tankers with 27 crew members were taken hostage off of Malaysia. In Indonesian anchorages and waters, the IMB reported a high number of “low-level opportunistic thefts, not to be compared with the more serious incidents off Africa.” But these accounted for more than 50% of all vessels boarded in 2013, and armed robbery increased for a fourth consecutive year.

Attacks in India and Bangladesh are also described as “low-level and opportunistic.” The incidents off India have increased each year since 2010, reaching 14 in 2013, while the IMB says active patrolling by the Bangladesh Coast Guard has kept the number of incidents off Chittagong, Bangladesh, at around 12 for the last few years.