Shipowners will feel increasing pressure
New figures from the IMB for 2010 today showed 436 reports of piracy and armed robbery, from 406 in 2009.
The number of total hijackings worldwide for 2010 was 51 compared to 49 in 2009, the International Maritime Bureau added, while the total incidents attributed to Somali pirates was 218 – with 47 vessels hijacked and 1,001 crew members taken hostage – from 217 incidents and 867 hostages last year.
Andrew Palmer, CEO of consulting firm Idarat Maritime, warned Fairplay today: “The reality is that Somali piracy, in particular, has been more successful in 2010 than ever before, and there is good reason to believe that their business will be even more successful in 2011.”
Although the key to anti-piracy defence is preventing the attackers from boarding, this is not always possible, and ships must do what they can in the interim, he cautioned.
Shipowners will feel increasing pressure from insurers, counterparties, unions, navies and governments to take far more responsibility for protecting their ships in 2011, Palmer predicted, adding: “Merely sitting out an attack in a citadel will prove to be insufficient, important although citadels are as a last-ditch protection for the crew.”
The IMB strongly urges owners to report all incidents of actual and attempted piracy and armed robbery to it and to follow best management practices.
Source: IMB
