THERE was a 55 per cent year-on-year decline in piracy incidents, down to 66 attacks worldwide in the first quarter.
Piracy incidents fall 55pc in first quarter to 66 attacks, reports IMB
THERE was a 55 per cent year-on-year decline in piracy incidents, down to 66 attacks worldwide in the first quarter, according to the latest report by the International Chamber of Commerce's (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
Four vessels were hijacked, 51 vessels were boarded, seven were fired upon and four reported attempted attacks were reported in the first quarter of 2013. In addition, 75 crew were taken hostage, 14 kidnapped and one killed.
The worst affected area was the Gulf of Guinea with 15 incidents recorded, including three hijackings, followed by Nigeria with 11 incidents. In at least nine of these attacks, guns were reported.
An offshore supply vessel with 15 crew members was also hijacked. One crew member was shot and killed while after his chemical tanker came under fire at Lagos anchorage. A further 14 crew were kidnapped from four different vessels in Nigeria. At the time of the kidnappings, all the vessels were reported at sea, said the report.
In Africa's Ivory Coast three incidents were recorded, including the hijacking of two tankers.
In eastern Africa, Somalia reported five incidents in the first quarter including the hijacking of a fishing vessel and its 20-member crew, who were successfully freed by naval forces before the vessel reached Somalia.
In the Indian Ocean, two vessels were fired upon. There were also two attempted attacks against Aframax-sized tankers in the Gulf of Aden.
Somali pirates continue to hold five vessels with 60 crew members on board plus 17 crew members are being held captive on land. In the latest attack this quarter, which took place 400 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, naval forces apprehended 12 pirates.
Indonesia reported 25 incidents, the highest number of attacks outside of African waters. These were said to involve mainly low-level robbery, yet in 24 of these incidents the vessels were boarded, including 22 while the ships were either anchored or at berth and the remainder while the vessels were at sea.
