Recent incidents reported to the IMB’s worldwide Piracy Reporting Centre
Three of the largest flag states accounting for around 40 per cent of the world’s commercial shipping tonnage – Liberia, Marshall Islands and Panama – have signed an agreement condemning pirate violence against seafarers.
In a declaration signed in Washington, USA on 3 August, the flag states also agreed to pool information on pirate mistreatment of seafarers and provide this to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
IMB director Pottengal Mukundan commented: “This new initiative will help to publicise the human cost of piracy, which at times can go unnoticed among reports of hijacking and huge ransoms.”
The agreement follows the publication in June 2011 of the Human Cost of Piracy report by the Oceans Beyond Piracy working group. The report found that thousands of seafarers had been subject to pirate gunfire, beatings, confinement and, in some cases, torture.
According to IMB figures for 10 August, Somali pirates continue to hold captive around 19 vessels and 377 hostages. Hostages include seven Indian seafarers from the Asphalt Venture still held captive despite the payment of a ransom in April.
There are also increasing concerns about the growth of piracy off the West African coast. Benin, Nigeria and Togo are due to meet with relevant stakeholders to discuss ways to enhance maritime safety in the sub-region.
Recent incidents reported to the IMB’s worldwide Piracy Reporting Centre include:
- Three pirate skiffs approached a bulk carrier in the Red Sea on 11 August and boarded the vessel. The captain raised the alert and the crew retreated to the citadel. A warship later arrived but a search found no pirates.
- Five pirates armed with rocket-propelled grenade and guns chased and fired on a cargo ship in the Red Sea on 9 August but moved away after the onboard security team fired warning shots.
- Four robbers armed with long knives boarded a tanker anchored off Tanjungpiai Racon, Malaysia on 8 August, tied up the duty oiler, stole engine spares and escaped.
- Four armed robbers boarded a container vessel anchored at Pointe Noire, Congo on 7 August. After the alarm was raised and the crew alerted, the robbers jumped overboard and escaped with stolen ship’s stores.
- Twelve skiffs each with five to eight pirates, guns and ladders approached a bulk carrier in the Red Sea on 6 August. Most of the skiffs fell back after the vessel’s onboard armed security team fired warning shots, but two skiffs continued the chase and returned fire. The pirates abandoned their attack after a 30-minute exchange with the security team.
- Eight pirates armed with knives boarded a tug in the South China Sea on 6 August and stole ship’s stores and crew’s personal belongings.
Six robbers attempted to board a chemical tanker anchored in Mamonal, Colombia on 4 August but abandoned their attempt after the alarm was raised and the crew flashed lights on them. - A robber boarded a container ship anchored at Chittagong, Bangladesh on 3 August and attempted to steal ship’s rope but jumped overboard and escaped when the alarm was raised.
Source: ITF
