A global resurgence
Global piracy and armed robbery incidents increased by 4% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC). While this does not appear to be a substantial overall change, a closer look at the figures do reveal some alarming trends.
First and foremost, the resurgence of Somali pirate activity raises concern. The IMB PRC, in December 2023, reported the first successful hijacking of a vessel off the coast of Somalia since 2017. During the first three months of 2024, five more incidents, including two hijackings, were recorded in the Western Indian Ocean, all occurring at significant distances from the Somali coastline.
The IMB PRC’s latest reports also reveal that incidents in Gulf of Guinea waters increased in 2023 and continued to do so in the first quarter of 2024. After a fourfold decline in reported attacks between 2020 and 2022 in the region, this trend reversal serves as a prudent reminder that piracy and armed robbery remain a serious threat in Gulf of Guinea waters. Furthermore, the persistent threat of armed robbery in the Singapore Strait continues to be a major concern. Based on the latest reports from the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against…