Please select your home edition
Edition
Barton Marine 2019 728x90

2024 Jan-Sep IMB Piracy and Armed Robbery report

by ICC International Maritime Bureau 10 Oct 21:06 UTC
2024 Jan-Sep IMB Piracy and Armed Robbery report © ICC International Maritime Bureau

In the first nine months of 2024, reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery fell to the lowest levels since 1994, according to the latest report by the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

Despite the lowest reported incidents in three decades, IMB and its Piracy Reporting Centre warns that crew safety remains at risk.

IMB reported 79 incidents for the period of January-September 2024, down from 99 incidents in the same period last year. This marks a significant overall reduction and the lowest reported numbers since 1994.

From January to September, 62 vessels were boarded, six were hijacked while nine faced attempted attacks and two were fired upon. In 86% of incidents, perpetrators successfully gained access to the vessel with most incidents occurring at night.

Violence towards crew members remains concerning, with 111 crew taken hostage, 11 kidnapped and three threatened. Perpetrators were armed with weapons, guns, and knives in 45 of the reported incidents.

IMB Director Michael Howlett said: "With reported incidents at their lowest since 1994, the decline in reported piracy and armed robbery incidents is encouraging. This is an important time to reinforce our message not to be complacent, and for vessel owners and operators to adhere to IMB guidelines. We commend governments and law enforcement for their excellent work, which has made this improvement possible."

Escalating violence in the Indonesian Archipelago

The Indonesian Archipelago remains an area of concern with a steady rise in the number of reported incidents. From January to September 2024, 17 incidents were reported compared to 12 in 2023 and nine in 2022. Weapons were reported in 11 incidents, 27 crew were taken hostage and one crew was threatened. Two hijackings were reported in February and September in nearly the same location South of Tanjung Malatayur, Central Kalimantan where oil cargoes were stolen from barges under tow. IMB calls upon local authorities to increase their on-water presence to act as a deterrent to these crimes.

Fewer incidents in Gulf of Guinea, Somalia and Singapore Straits

In the first nine months of 2024, 12 incidents were reported in the Gulf of Guinea region, the lowest number of reports since 1996. While the drop in the number of reported incidents is welcome, there remains concern over the safety of crew, with 11 crew kidnapped and 21 taken hostage.

Eight incidents have been reported in the waters off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, with three hijacked vessels and two fired upon. IMB has not received reports of any maritime piracy incidents from vessels transiting these waters between July and September, possibly due to the prevalence of monsoons.

Incidents in the Singapore Straits have dropped to 23, compared to 33 over the same period last year. Perpetrators were successful in boarding the vessels in 96% of the cases. Considering the navigational challenges of these waters, IMB warns that even low-level opportunistic incidents on board such large vessels could potentially increase the risk to navigation.

IMB urges vessels to continue adhering to the latest Best Management Practices to ensure safety of crew, vessel and cargo.

IMB commends local authorities for investigating reported incidents and renews calls for accurate and timely reporting of maritime incidents.

The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre

Founded in 1991, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre serves as a crucial, 24-hour point of contact to report crimes of piracy and lend support to ships under threat. Quick reactions and a focus on coordinating with response agencies, sending out warning broadcasts and email alerts to ships have all helped bolster security on the high seas. The data gathered by the Centre also provides key insights on the nature and state of modern piracy.

IMB encourages all shipmasters and owners to report all actual, attempted and suspected global piracy and armed robbery incidents to the Piracy Reporting Centre as a vital first step to ensuring adequate resources are allocated by authorities to tackle maritime piracy.

Request your copy of the January to September 2024 Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships report here.

Related Articles

2024 Jan-Mar IMB Piracy and Armed Robbery report
New report highlights continued threat of Somali piracy The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) raises concern on the continued acts of maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia in its first quarter report for 2024, released today. Posted on 12 Apr
2023 Annual IMB Piracy and Armed Robbery report
120 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery recorded Concerns for crew safety in Singapore Straits, Malacca Straits and Indonesian archipelago Posted on 12 Jan
2023 Jan-Sept IMB Piracy and Armed Robbery report
99 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in the first 9 months of 2023 The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has revealed a rise in reported incidents in the Gulf of Guinea and concerns for the Singapore Straits in its latest report for the period of January-September 2023, released today. Posted on 11 Oct 2023
2023 Jan-Jun IMB Piracy and Armed Robbery report
65 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were recorded in the first half of 2023 The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has raised concern on the resurgence of reported incidents in the Gulf of Guinea waters and the increase in incidents in the Singapore Straits in its mid-year report for 2023, released today. Posted on 13 Jul 2023
IMB records lowest level of Q1 piracy since 1993
The report reveals 27 incidents were reported in the first quarter of the year IMB has recorded the lowest level of reported global piracy and armed robbery incidents since 1993 but calls for continued vigilance and naval response in its first quarter piracy and armed robbery report for 2023, released today. Posted on 14 Apr 2023
2022 September - IMB Piracy Report
No room for complacency, as global piracy incidents hit lowest levels The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) is calling for regional and international players to sustain their efforts, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea, as global piracy and armed robbery incidents reach their lowest levels since 1992. Posted on 13 Oct 2022
2022 Jan - June IMB Piracy Report
Latest global piracy report details 58 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) received the lowest number of reported incidents for the first half of any year since 1994 - a testament to its pivotal role in raising awareness to make waters safer. Posted on 14 Jul 2022
Lull in Gulf of Guinea crew kidnappings welcome
ICC IMB urges continued caution The ICC IMB's latest global piracy and armed robbery report recorded 37 incidents in the first three months of 2022 - compared to 38 incidents over the same period last year - with nearly half of them (41%) occurring in Southeast Asian waters. Posted on 12 Apr 2022
Caution urged despite lowest piracy incidents
IMB attributes the drop to vigorous action taken by authorities Maritime piracy and armed robbery attacks reached the lowest recorded level since 1994, the annual piracy report of the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB), published today, reveals. Posted on 13 Jan 2022
Piracy and armed robbery incidents at lowest level
IMB cautions against complacency The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has reported the lowest number of reported piracy and armed robbery incidents for the first nine months of any year since 1994. Posted on 14 Oct 2021
Crewsaver 2021 Safetyline FOOTERJ Composites J/45Stoneways Marine 2021 - FOOTER