The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has reported a decline in global maritime incidents and piracy in 2024 but urges continued caution as crew safety remains at risk.
The IMB annual Piracy and Armed Robbery Report recorded 116 incidents against ships in 2024 compared to 120 in 2023 and 115 in 2022. It reveals that 94 vessels were boarded, 13 attempted attacks, six vessels hijacked and three fired upon.
Piracy incidents are decreasing
Piracy incidents are decreasing, but the risk of kidnapping for those on board a ship is not. This is according to the International Maritime Bureau IMB, according to which piracy at sea is less common than it once was, but the risk for crew members remains high, especially in warmer regions such as the Singapore Strait.
94 attacks resulted in boardings
In 2024, piracy levels remained largely unchanged from 2023 and 2022, at approximately 116 incidents. Of these, 94 attacks resulted in boardings, six vessels were hijacked, and three were attacked by pirates. Thirteen failed attempted attacks were reported during the year.
kidnappings of seafarers
Kidnappings remain lower than during the peak years of pirate activity off Somalia and Nigeria. Last year, 12 crew members were kidnapped (all in the Gulf of Guinea), a rate that was about the same as in 2023.
However, kidnappings are on the rise. In 2024, a total of 126 seafarers were held hostage, almost three times the figure for 2022. Another 12 crew members were threatened last year and one was injured in an attack.
Singapore Strait is danger
The incidents reflect a resurgence of activity in the Singapore Strait, a hotspot with a centuries-old history of piracy. Last year, 43 attacks were reported, including 11 incidents in which a large merchant vessel over 100,000 dwt was targeted, departing from the normal selection of tugboats and low-sided cargo vessels. Thirteen crew members were taken hostage in the incidents, and reports of possession of knives and weapons increased.
Harm to crew
Harm to crew continued, with 13 taken hostage, five threatened and one injured during the incidents. While considered low-level opportunistic crimes, the use of guns and knives increased to eight and 19 in 2024 respectively, compared to three and 15 in 2023. Most incidents were reported during the hours of darkness and while vessels were underway.
Danger New Areas
New areas of concern include the waters of the Indonesian archipelago and the anchorage areas off Chittagong and Mongla, Bangladesh, which have seen an increase in pirate activity in the past year.
“While we welcome the reduction in reported incidents,” said ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO, “the ongoing threats to crew safety remain a significant concern.
He added : It is vital to safeguard shipping lanes and ensure the safety of seafarers, who are essential to maintaining global trade. This requires a collaborative effort, with a continued regional and international naval presence crucial to this objective.”
The IMB called on shipowners to remain vigilant and improve the timeliness of incident reporting, which helps the entire maritime community and institutions to take action and prevent future attacks.
The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) is a specialised division of the International Chamber Of Commerce (ICC). The IMB is a non-profit making organisation, established in 1981 to act as a focal point in the fight against all types of maritime crime and malpractice.
Photo source : Shipping Italy + IMB
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