News
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB)’s annual Piracy and Armed Robbery Report recorded 120 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships in 2023, an increase of five from 115 in 2022.The report reveals that 105 vessels were boarded, nine attempted attacks, four vessels hijacked and two fired upon.
The IMB urges caution for crew safety as the number of crew taken hostage and kidnapped increased from 41 to 73 and from two to 14, respectively. A further 10 crew were threatened, four injured and one assaulted in 2023.
On Dec. 14, 2023 the report recorded the first successful hijacking of a vessel off the coast of Somalia since 2017. A handymax bulk carrier was boarded and hijacked by alleged Somali pirates. The incident took place around 700 nautical miles east of Bosaso, Somalia. Reports also suggest two dhows were subsequently hijacked, a type of vessel with potential use as mother ships for further attacks.
Despite the continued restraint in the number of reported incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, with 22 in 2023 compared to 19 in 2022, 35 in 2021 and 81 in 2020, these waters accounted for three of the four globally reported hijackings, all 14 crew kidnappings, and 75% of reported crew hostages and two injured crew in 2023—continuing to be dangerous waters for seafarers.
The Singapore Straits remain an area of concern due to a high number of incidents. While considered low-level opportunistic crimes, 95% of reported incidents were successful, with 37 reported incidents overall in 2023 compared to 38 in 2022. Crew continue to be harmed with nine taken hostage and two threatened. Guns were reported in three recorded incidents and knives in 15.
