We have received the 2023 annual piracy and armed robbery report from the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) together with the summary below. For more details, please refer to the attached files.

Summary

The 2023 IMB annual report recorded 120 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships in 2023 compared to 115 in 2022. There was a 91% success rate in vessel boarding with 105 vessels 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 in 2022 and 2023 respectively. A further 10 crew were threatened, four injured and one assaulted in 2023.

The majority of the successful incidents were reported while vessels were anchored or steaming as per below.

Regions where incidents reported.

Somali Piracy

The successful hijacking of a merchant vessel in December 2023; the first since 2017; does raise the question – has Somali based piracy resurrected? Dhows, traditionally used as mother ships have also been reported as hijacked. These incidents are a cause of concern as they demonstrate the continued capabilities of the Somali pirates. The IMB is once again calling for all masters and vessel owners to continue following the recommendations and reporting procedures as per the latest version of the Best Management Practices (BMP).

Gulf of Guinea

While the number of reported incidents continues to be lower than 2021 (35 reported incidents) and 2020 (84 reported incidents), there has been an increase compared to 2022 (19 reported incidents). In 2023, however, these waters accounted for three of the four globally reported hijackings, all 14 crew kidnappings, 75% of reported crew hostages and two injured crew in 2023. Considering the sustained targeting of seafarers, the IMB is apprehensive of the perceived reduction of incidents and continues to urge all vessels transiting these waters to follow recommended BMP guidelines and report incidents to the regional reporting centres and the IMB PRC as soon as there is a suspicion of an approaching threat.

Asia (Singapore Straits)

Incidents in the Singapore Straits continue to remain high with 37 in 2023 compared to 38 in 2022. Vessels were successfully boarded in 95% of the reported incidents. Sixteen vessels, mainly bulk carriers over 80,000 DWT were boarded. Of these six were over 170,000 DWT. Whilst reported predominately as low-level opportunistic thefts, nine crew were taken hostage in 2023 compared to four in 2022 and a further two crew were threatened during these incidents. Knives were reported from 15 incidents and guns in a further three. Majority of incidents were reported during the hours of darkness and whilst vessels were underway. Owners and operators are encouraged to report all incidents to Singapore VTIS and the IMB PRC in a timely manner.

Asia (Indonesia)

There has been a year-on-year increase in reported incidents in the Indonesian archipelago, up from 10 in 2022 to 18 in 2023. Weapons were reported in 50% of the incidents. Seven crew were threatened and two taken hostage in 2023.

Caribbean, Central and South America

Fourteen vessels at Callao anchorage in Peru have reported being boarded. Seven crew were taken hostage and one each assaulted and threatened. Guns and knives were reported in nine incidents.