The first pirate attack of the year took place in the hazardous waters off the West African coast on 2 January. The International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB) piracy reporting centre recorded an incident around 55 nautical miles off Corisco Island, Gabon when five pirates boarded a drifting gas carrier. After the crew raised the alarm and blew the ship’s horn, the pirates escaped.
The IMB has since recorded further attacks off West Africa, as well as continuing incidents of armed robbery around the Indonesian coast. Despite the reduction in attacks originating from Somalia, suspected Somali pirates still hold two vessels and 64 crew members for ransom, of whom more than half have not seen their home or families for over two years.
Recent incidents reported to the IMB worldwide piracy reporting centre include the following:
The IMB has since recorded further attacks off West Africa, as well as continuing incidents of armed robbery around the Indonesian coast. Despite the reduction in attacks originating from Somalia, suspected Somali pirates still hold two vessels and 64 crew members for ransom, of whom more than half have not seen their home or families for over two years.
Recent incidents reported to the IMB worldwide piracy reporting centre include the following:
- A robber was spotted throwing ship’s property overboard from a cargo ship berthed in Monrovia, Liberia on 8 January, and he jumped overboard and escaped. An investigating port security patrol boat recovered some of the stolen property.
- Two robbers boarded a tanker anchored at Gresik, Indonesia on 7 January, threatened the duty watchkeeper with a knife, stole ship's stores and escaped after the alarm was raised and the crew mustered.
- Three robbers armed with knives boarded a container ship berthed at Douala, Cameroon on 7 January but escaped after the alarm was raised.
- Six robbers armed with knives boarded a chemical tanker anchored at Belawan, Indonesia on 6 January but escaped empty-handed after the alarm was raised.
- Robbers boarded a chemical tanker anchored at Belawan, Indonesia on 3 January, stole ship’s property and escaped.
- Three robbers armed with a gun boarded a bulk carrier loading while anchored at Muara Berau, Samarinda, Indonesia on 3 January, took the duty crew member hostage and stole his personal belongings, and then broke into a store, stole ship's property and escaped.
Source: ITF Seafarers