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Piracy attacks drop to lowest level in six years: IMBPiracy attacks drop to lowest level in six years: IMB

Piracy has dropped to its lowest level in six years, according to watchdog the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), as a result of the sharp decline in attacks off Somalia.

Marcus Hand, Editor

January 15, 2014

1 Min Read
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The IMB said that 264 attacks worldwide were reported to its piracy reporting centre, down 40% from the high seen in 2011.

“The single biggest reason for the drop in worldwide piracy is the decrease in Somali piracy off the coast of East Africa,” said Pottengal Mukundan, director of the IMB. Last year there were just 15 pirate attacks reported off Somalia, compared to 75 in 2012 and 237 in 2011.

A combination of factors was seen in the drop in Somali piracy attacks, including the international naval presence, the hardening of vessels, the use of private armed security, and greater stability from the Somali government.

However, the IMB believes the problem is far from being solved and if security measures are stepped down there could be a quick resurgence in attacks on shipping. “It is imperative to continue combined international efforts to tackle Somali piracy. Any complacency at this stage could re-kindle pirate activity,” Mukundan warned.

While progress has been seen on Somali piracy there are growing concerns over violent piracy of West Africa, a region which accounted for 19% of attacks in 2013.

Nigerian pirates were noted to be particularly violent killing one crew member and taking 36 hostage to be held onshore for ransom. Nigerian pirates accounted for 31 of the 51 attacks in the West Africa region.

About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

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