We have received the 2024 January - March 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 2024 January - March are broken down as 24 vessels boarded, six attempted attacks, two vessels hijacked and one fired upon. Violence against and the threat to crews continues with 35 crew taken hostage, nine crew kidnapped and one threatened.

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

Regions where incidents reported.

Somalia

The threat of Somali piracy continues with two reported hijackings. In addition, one vessel each was fired upon, boarded and reported an attempted approach. These incidents have been reported at great distances from the Somali coastline, demonstrating their continued capacity and capabilities.

Gulf of Guinea

Incidents within the Gulf of Guinea waters and the littoral states continue to remain curtailed. Six incidents were reported in between January and March 2024 compared to five in the same period of 2023. The reduction is welcomed. However, on 1 January 2024 a product tanker was boarded around 45nm south of Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. Nine crew, including the Master and C/E were kidnapped suggesting the criminality of piracy remains a real threat

Asia

Bangladesh: There has been a noticeable increase in incidents in Bangladeshi waters in 2024. Seven reports have been received - six from vessels at anchorage in Chattogram - compared to one report for the whole of 2023.

Singapore Straits: Recorded five incidents against four large bulk carriers and a general cargo vessel. Whilst viewed as low level opportunistic incidents, five crew were taken hostage in three separate incidents in January in the Straits.