As global attention on maritime transport focuses on the actions of Yemen's Houthi rebels, another alarming trend has emerged: a rise in piracy acts against merchant ships after a period of decline. This was highlighted in the Bureau's annual report, which noted an increase in pirate attacks from the previous year, culminating in 120 incidents. Notably, for the first time since 2017, a ship was hijacked by Somali pirates, an event that occurred off the Somali coast on December 14.
Most incidents (105) involved ship boardings, predominantly bulk carriers (45 cases). Tankers (34 cases) and container ships (18 cases) were also frequent targets. In 2023, the attacks in the Gulf of Guinea, which has become one of the most dangerous areas in recent years, were somewhat contained, with 22 incidents compared to 19 in 2022 and 35 in 2021, though there were 81 in 2020. However, the Bureau notes that this region witnessed three of the four reported global hijackings and fourteen crew kidnappings, resulting in two injuries. The Gulf of Guinea thus remains a highly perilous area for seafarers.
Another hazardous region is the Strait of Singapore, where numerous, albeit less dangerous, incidents compared to the African region occurred. A total of 37 incidents were reported, down slightly from 38 the previous year, with a 95% success rate for the pirates, who took nine sailors hostage. In the nearby Strait of Malacca, a seafarer aboard a bulk carrier was injured in October 2023. Within the same region, piracy attacks in the Indonesian archipelago are on the rise, with 18 incidents in 2023 up from 10 the previous year, including two hostage situations.
Piracy also persists in Latin America, with fourteen serious incidents reported near the Peruvian port of Callao, involving seven hostages. The Bureau also reported attacks in Macapá, Brazil, and Cartagena and Puerto Bolívar in Colombia, primarily targeting anchored ships. To counter piracy, the Bureau urges captains and shipowners to adhere to the latest best management practices and reporting procedures.
