By Milcah Tanimu
The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has released its annual Piracy and Armed Robbery Report, revealing a worrisome surge in maritime piracy incidents in 2023. The report documented 120 incidents, marking an increase from the 115 recorded in 2022.
Among the reported incidents in 2023 were 105 vessels boarded, nine attempted attacks, four vessels hijacked, and two fired upon. Notably, the IMB report drew attention to the heightened risk to crew safety, with the number of crew taken hostage and kidnapped rising from 41 to 73 and from two to 14 in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Additionally, 10 crew members were threatened, four injured, and one assaulted during the year.
Michael Howlett, the director of IMB, expressed concern over the escalating incidents and urged vessel owners and masters to adhere to recommended safety measures. He emphasized the importance of following the latest version of the Best Management Practices, highlighting that the incidents underscored the enduring capabilities of Somali pirates.
The report pointed out that three out of four reported vessel hijackings occurred in the Gulf of Guinea. Despite a relative decline in reported incidents in this region, with 22 in 2023 compared to 19 in 2022, 35 in 2021, and 81 in 2020, the Gulf of Guinea accounted for three of the four globally reported hijackings, all 14 crew kidnappings, and 75 percent of reported crew hostages, along with two injured crew members in 2023. This underscores the ongoing danger posed by these waters to seafarers.