20 October 2011
The IMB has revealed in its latest global piracy report that in the first nine months piracy has risen to record levels, with Somali pirates responsible for nearly 60% of the 352 attacks reported, even though more Somali piracy attacks are being prevented by better anti-piracy measures, including the use of the Best Management Practices ver 4 (BMP4)and better naval responses.
In the first nine months this year pirates have captured 625 seafarers hostage worldwide; eight people have been killed by pirates in this period. Although piracy in the Red Sea , Gulf of Aden and Somali basin is the obvious area of concern the incidents of piracy off the coasts of certain West African and South East Asian countries should not be forgotten. These attacks would appear to be also on the increase. Presently off West Africa attacks off Benin, Togo, Guinea, Democratic Rep Congo and Nigeria are of concern. Attacks off Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore Straits are also worrying. The West African coast off Benin has seen an unprecedented increase in piracy with 19 attacks leading to eight tanker hijackings this year.
Ships anchored in /off or approaching the ports of Chittagong, Cochin: Indonesian ports of Belawan, Dumai, Jakarta, Samarinda and West African Ports of; Cotonou, Conoakry, Abidjan, Lagos, Pointe Noire, Lome should be particularly cautious.
Source: The Standard P&I Club
