However, there is ongoing concern over attacks in the Gulf of Guinea and in Southeast Asia, according to International Maritime Bureau's (IMB's) latest quarterly report on maritime piracy.
The uptick in attacks off the coast of Venezuela and other security incidents targeting vessels off Libya - including an attempted boarding in the last quarter - highlights the need for vigilance in other areas. In total, 92 vessels were boarded, 13 were fired upon, there were 11 attempted attacks and five vessels were hijacked over the reporting period.
Some of the more serious incidents include a Thai product tanker being attacked off Pulau Yu in Malaysia in early September. However, thanks to the prompt intervention of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, 10 hijackers were successfully apprehended and the tanker was safely escorted to a nearby port. The pirates were sentenced to long periods of imprisonment.
A total of 20 reports against all vessel types were received for Nigeria, 16 of which occurred off the coast of Brass, Bonny and Bayelsa. Guns were reportedly used in 18 of the incidents and vessels were underway in 17 of the 20 reports. Thirty-nine of the 49 crewmembers kidnapped globally occurred off Nigerian waters in seven separate incidents.
The number of incidents that took place off Venezuela rose from three in 2016 to 11 in the first nine months of this year. All vessels were successfully boarded by robbers armed with guns or knives and mostly took place at anchorage. Four crewmembers were taken hostage during these incidents, with two assaulted and one injured.
The uptick in attacks off the coast of Venezuela and other security incidents targeting vessels off Libya - including an attempted boarding in the last quarter - highlights the need for vigilance in other areas. In total, 92 vessels were boarded, 13 were fired upon, there were 11 attempted attacks and five vessels were hijacked over the reporting period.
Some of the more serious incidents include a Thai product tanker being attacked off Pulau Yu in Malaysia in early September. However, thanks to the prompt intervention of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, 10 hijackers were successfully apprehended and the tanker was safely escorted to a nearby port. The pirates were sentenced to long periods of imprisonment.
A total of 20 reports against all vessel types were received for Nigeria, 16 of which occurred off the coast of Brass, Bonny and Bayelsa. Guns were reportedly used in 18 of the incidents and vessels were underway in 17 of the 20 reports. Thirty-nine of the 49 crewmembers kidnapped globally occurred off Nigerian waters in seven separate incidents.
The number of incidents that took place off Venezuela rose from three in 2016 to 11 in the first nine months of this year. All vessels were successfully boarded by robbers armed with guns or knives and mostly took place at anchorage. Four crewmembers were taken hostage during these incidents, with two assaulted and one injured.