IMB Report: One Coastal Tanker Hijacked Every Two Weeks in SE Asia

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday April 22, 2015

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Tuesday reported that an average of one coastal tanker is hijacked by pirates in South East Asia every two weeks.

"After a steady drop in global piracy over the last few years, attacks rose 10 percent in the first quarter of 2015 on the same period of 2014," the ICC states.

While West Africa is a hotspot for violent piracy, the ICC states that the number of hijacks in South East Asia is "worrying," accounting for 55 percent of the world's 54 piracy and armed robbery incidents since the start of 2015.

"The frequency of these hijackings in South East Asia is an increasing cause for concern," said Pottengal Mukundan, Director of IMB.

"There's a risk that the attacks and violence could increase if left unabated," Mukundan continued.

Indonesia was named as the country with the highest number of attacks, "accounting for almost 40 percent of 2015 attacks, with two vessels hijacked and 19 vessels boarded," the ICC reported.

Vietnam has also seen a notable increase in armed robbery incidents, with eight reports in the past three months alone, specifically in and around Hai Phong and Vung Tau, according to the ICC.

While the IMB report showed zero incidents of piracy in Somalia during the first quarter of 2015, it advises that Best Management Practices should still be followed, as the threat of Somali piracy has not been eliminated.

On April 6, 2015 it was reported that bunker theft fuels piracy in South East Asia.

Ship & Bunker News Team
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