A new report from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) highlights the continuing trend in Southeast Asia of the hijacking of small coastal tankers by maritime pirates – averaging one attack every two weeks.
According to the IMB, five small tankers were hijacked in South East Asian waters in the second quarter of 2015 alone, which brought the total number of vessels hijacked in 2015 up to 13.
It seems though, that enhanced cooperation between regional authorities is paying off, as early detection of approaching skiffs has resulted in a number of potential attacks being aborted, suggests the ICC.
The report highlighted the tracking and arrest, off Vietnam, of an eight-man Indonesian gang responsible for the hijacking of the Malaysian tanker, 'Orkim Harmony', last month. IMB also praised the Malaysian authorities for the June conviction of nine Indonesian pirates, apprehended after the January hijacking of an anchored product tanker off Johor, the 'Sun Birdie'.
"Information sharing and coordinated action between concerned coastal states is crucial in responding to this threat. We commend the effort that caught one gang and also the hefty custodial sentences imposed on another which will help deter further incidents," Pottengal Mukundan, Director of IMB said.
Global Figures
A total of 134 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) in the first six months of 2015 – which is an increase on the 116 reports for the corresponding period last year.
106 vessels we boarded by pirates, who completed 13 hijackings and 15 attempted attacks worldwide. So far in 2015, 250 crewmembers have been taken hostage, 14 assaulted, ten kidnapped, nine injured and one killed.
Trouble spots
According to the IMB, while more than a third of incidents reported to the PRC took place off the coast of Indonesia, the majority of these related to "low-level, opportunistic thefts from vessels". A significant increase in the number of incidents off Bangladesh and Chittagong has occurred, with ten reports made in the second quarter of 2015 compared with only one in the first quarter.
Eleven incidents were reported in the first half of 2015 off Nigeria, though no incidents were reported in the month of June. However, ten crew kidnappings in three separate events were reported in and around Nigerian waters during the second quarter.
