From gCaptain, July 12:
The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has reported an increase in piracy and armed robbery incidents against ships in the Gulf of Guinea and Singapore Straits in the first six months of 2023, as the IMB calls continued naval presence as a deterrent.
The IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre received reports of 65 incidents of piracy and armed robbery worldwide in the first half of this year, an increase from 58 incidents for the same period in 2022. Of the 65 incidents reported, 57 vessels were boarded, with 36 crew taken hostage and 14 kidnapped.
“The resurgence in reported incidents including hostage situations and crew kidnappings in the Gulf of Guinea waters is concerning,” said IMB Director Michael Howlett. “The IMB calls for continued, robust regional and international naval presence as a deterrent to address these crimes.”
Thee Gulf of Guinea saw a surge in maritime incidents in the first half of this year, with five incidents in Q1 and nine in Q2. Twelve of these were armed robberies and 2 were piracy, targeting anchored vessels in the region.
The piracy incidents include 14 crew members kidnapped, 8 taken from vessels within territorial waters, 31 held hostage in two separate hijackings where communication/navigation equipment was destroyed, and partial cargoes stolen. One incident involved the abduction of 6 crew members....
....MUCH MORE
Last month we visited ReCAAP for "In Southeast Asia There Be Pirates" and after reading through the list of incidents I once again expressed my befuddlement (and amazement):
....We used to track the Somali pirates, many of the links are in "Why Pirates Are Giving Up On Oil":
I
was always under the impression that by taking up piracy those who ply
that vocation self-identified (probably not a term they use) as outlaws,
literally outside-the-law and could be shot on sight by any navy in the
world. The lady attorneys tell me this is not always the case.
More after the jump.....
The brazenness and impunity were amazing:
Back in the heyday of the Somali pirates the business grew to be quite formalized. Some of our posts from that time:
Piracy 2012: Now With Form Letters, P.R.
"Somali sea gangs lure investors at pirate lair" and "A comparison of Piracy and Private Equity"
"Mace and Vomit: The Latest in Anti-Pirate Tech"
Oil: Somali Pirates Seize Supertanker, Smoke the Khat, Head for Home
Somali pirates set up "agencies" on three continents
"The Arms Race Against the Pirates"
Big Money: Somali Pirates' Rich Returns
Arrgh: 'Pirates Not a Good Long Term Bet
Who said a grenade launcher could not be a perfect financial asset?"
A new form of finance on the coast of Somalia.
I particularly enjoyed this part:
Piracy investor Sahra Ibrahim, a 22-year-old divorcee, was lined up with others waiting for her cut of a ransom pay-out after one of the gangs freed a Spanish tuna fishing vessel.
“I am waiting for my share after I contributed a rocket-propelled grenade for the operation,” she said, adding that she got the weapon from her ex-husband in alimony.
“I am really happy and lucky. I have made $75,000 in only 38 days since I joined the ‘company’.”But then a few of the navies said enough's enough and after a couple of dramatic shootouts, including one involving an Indian frigate: "Indian navy destroys 'pirate ship'" and we didn't hear much about the Somalis any more. West Africa however....Bight of Benin, Gulf of Guinea, that 'hood, is pretty active.
