IMB: Attacks on Small Tankers in SE Asia Continue as Global Incidents of Piracy and Armed Robbery Rises 15.5%

Globally, IMB says that a total of 134 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported to the IMB during the first half of 2015.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Wednesday released a new maritime piracy report that shows a continuing trend in hijackings of small coastal tankers in South East Asia, with an average of one attack occurring every two weeks.

Globally, IMB says that a total of 134 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) during the first half of 2015, up 15.5 percent from 116 during the same period in 2014.

More than a third of all attacks are said to have occurred off the coast of Indonesia but were largely "related to low-level, opportunistic thefts from vessels."

Five small tankers were reported to have been hijacked in South East Asian waters during the second quarter of 2015, but IMB says that "enhanced cooperation between regional authorities is paying off," and early detection of approaching skiffs has reportedly resulted in many attacks being aborted.

Global 2015 Trends

Globally, so far in 2015 pirates have managed to board a total of 106 vessels, resulting in 13 successful hijackings.

250 crew members have been taken hostage so far in 2015, 14 assaulted, 10 kidnapped, nine injured, and one killed, says IMB's report.

The number of armed robbery incidents upon vessels off Bangladesh and Chittagong are said to have increased "significantly" during the second quarter of 2015, with 10 reports filed compared to one in the first quarter.

11 incidents were said to have been reported off Nigeria during the first half of 2015, although none were reported during the month of June.

"However, 10 crew kidnappings in three separate events were reported in and around Nigerian waters," says the ICC.

While no attacks were reported off Somalia during the second quarter of 2015, IMB cautions that "the security situation in the Horn of Africa remains uncertain." 



"IMB urges ship masters to remain vigilant when transiting these waters and to adhere to the industry's Best Management Practice," said the organization in a statement.

In April, IMB released its report for the first quarter of 2015 which stated that attacks had risen 10 percent in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014.