- As of 30 June 2013, Somali pirates holding 57 crew
members for ransom on 4 vessels
Source:http://www.icc-ccs.org/
Somali piracy has fallen to its lowest levels since 2006,
focusing attention on violent piracy and armed robbery off the coast of West
Africa, the International Chamber Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau
(IMB)’s global piracy report has revealed.
According to latest reports, worldwide, the IMB Piracy
Reporting Centre (PRC) recorded 138 piracy incidents in the first six months of
2013, compared with 177 incidents for the corresponding period in 2012.
Seven hijackings have been recorded this year compared
with 20 in the first half of 2012. The number of sailors taken hostage also
fell dramatically; down to 127 this year from 334 in the first six months of
2012, the report said.
In the Gulf of Guinea, in addition to a rise in piracy
and armed robbery –31 incidents so far this year, including four hijackings –
IMB reports a surge in kidnappings at sea and a wider range of ship types being
targeted. This is a new cause for concern in a region already known for attacks
against vessels in the oil industry and theft of gas oil from tankers.
“There has been a worrying trend in the kidnapping of
crew from vessels well outside the territorial limits of coastal states in the
Gulf of Guinea,” said Mr Pottengal Mukundan, Director of IMB, which has
monitored world piracy since 1991.
“In April 2013, nine crew members were kidnapped from two
container vessels, one of which was 170 nautical miles from the coast. Pirates
have used motherships, some of which were smaller off-shore supply vessels
hijacked by pirates to conduct the attacks. There continues to be significant
under-reporting of attacks – a phenomenon highlighted by the IMB year on year.
This prevents meaningful response by the authorities and endangers other
vessels sailing into the area unaware of the precise nature of the threat,” Mr
Mukundan added.
Gulf of Guinea
Armed pirates in the Gulf of Guinea took 56 sailors
hostage and were responsible for all 30 crew kidnappings reported so far in
2013. One person was reported killed and at least another five injured. Attacks off Nigeria accounted for 22 of the
region’s 31 incidents and 28 of the crew kidnappings.
Mr Mukundan applauded the signing of the Code of Conduct
Concerning the Repression of Piracy, Armed Robbery Against Ships, and Illicit
Maritime Activity in West and Central African June 2013 by the heads of the West
and Central African countries.
“This should be translated soon into action on the
water,” he said.
“If these attacks
are left unchecked, they will become more frequent, bolder and more violent.
Cooperation and capacity building among the coastal states in this region is
the way forward and urgently needed to make these waters safe for seafarers and
vessels,” he added.
Somali clampdown
Meanwhile, in East Africa’s Gulf of Aden and Somalia,
eight piracy incidents including two hijackings were recorded in the first six
months of 2013, with 34 seafarers taken hostage.
IMB attributes this significant drop in the frequency and
range of attacks by Somali pirates to actions by international navies, as well
as preventive measures by merchant vessels, including the deployment of
privately contracted armed security personnel.
Mr Mukundan said: “The navies continue to play a vital
role in ensuring this threat is kept under control. The two vessels hijacked
were recovered by naval action before the pirates could take them to Somalia.
Only the navies can take such remedial action after a hijack. Denying the
pirates any success is essential to a sustained solution to this crime. Pirates
are known to be operating in these waters. Despite the temporary protection
provided by the southwest monsoon in some parts of the Arabian Sea, the threat
remains and vessels are advised to be vigilant and comply with the industry’s
Best Management Practices as they transit this area.”
Seafarers at the
hands of pirates
As of 30 June 2013, Somali pirates were holding 57 crew
members for ransom on four vessels. They were also holding 11 kidnapped crew
members on land in unknown conditions and locations. Four of these crew have
been held since April 2010 and seven since September 2010.
Elsewhere in the world, low level thefts against vessels
in ports and anchorages in Indonesia accounted for 48 attacks of which 43
vessels were boarded and some crew injured. IMB’s report includes details of
the ports and anchorages where attacks appear to be concentrated.
Eom.Saravanan
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