IMB Says Southeast Asia Piracy Crackdown "Appears to be Bearing Fruit" but Warns Against Complacency

IMB says that Southeast Asia's piracy crackdown seems to be working, noting "only two reported hijackings" in 2015's Q3.

The ICC's International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) says there has been an overall global reduction in serious piracy attacks so far this year to September 30, but warns against "complacency."

The organisation says there is reported to have been 190 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships so far this year, with 47 reported incidents globally between the months of July and September.

IMB notes that the majority of these incidents have been in Indonesia, with a total of 86 "mainly low-level incidents," seconded by Vietnam with a total of 19 reports of low-level incidents.

"In all, this year has seen 154 vessels boarded, 21 attempted attacks and 15 vessels hijacked. A total of 226 crew were taken hostage, 14 assaulted, 13 injured, 10 kidnapped and one killed," states IMB

Southeast Asia

In Southeast Asia, IMB says that a piracy crackdown "appears to be bearing fruit," and notes only two hijackings reported in the third quarter of the year, including a small product tanker that was in the Straits of Malacca, and a fishing vessel 40 miles west of Pulau Langkawi.

"The robust actions taken particularly by the Indonesian and Malaysian authorities - including the arrest of one the alleged masterminds – is precisely the type of deterrent required," said P Mukundan, IMB's Director.

African Coast

While there was only one attack reported in the Gulf of Guinea during the last quarter, the IMB says it believes the actual number is "considerably higher."

IMB's report notes an "increasingly fragile" situation on land in Somalia, and even though there have been no incidents reported off Somalia, cautions vessels to be vigilant as the threat of piracy not "eliminated."

The organisation further notes that "suspected Somali pirates continue to hold 29 crew members for ransom."

No incidents have been reported in the Gulf of Aden so far this year, says IMB.

Earlier this year the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) released a statement to highlight the difference between piracy and armed robbery, noting that most Southeast Asia hijacking incidents were in fact armed robbery, not piracy.