Page 19 - INTERCARGO - Annual Report Report 2022 - 2023

INDUSTRY TOPICS

Piracy For more information on this topic please visit:
intercargo.org/topics/piracy
and Armed Robbery at Sea

Be aware of the sea areas and

ports affected by piracy and
armed robbery. Report all attacks
and suspicious sightings to local
authorities as per IMO circular

MSC.1/Circ.1334 and to relevant
Navy’s reporting centres if
practical.

According to information made available in IMO’s GISIS ing the latest maritime security information from organisa-
module, 131 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against tions supporting the Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA). Best
ships were reported as having occurred or been attempt- Management Practices 5 (BMP5) will continue to provide
ed in 2022. The areas most affected included the Straits the necessary guidance for shipping to ensure that threat
of Malacca and Singapore (72), West Africa (21), and South and risk assessments are developed for every voyage to
America (Pacific) (14), followed by Indian Ocean (9), South mitigate the risks presented by remaining security threats
America (Atlantic) (6), South America (Caribbean) (4), South in the relevant region.
China Sea (4) and Arabian Sea (1).
The shipping industry maintains a Maritime Global Se-
The number of incidents that took place in the Gulf of Guin- curity Website. The site contains guidance and external
ea (West Africa) decreased in 2022 by 17 compared to the links, and the site is navigated using the drop-down menus
same period in 2021, when 38 incidents were reported. specifying the type of risk/issue, or the geography. Interna-
This constitutes a decrease of 45%. However, turning to tional shipping industry associations including INTERCAR-
2023, three very serious hijacking incidents were report- GO have joined forces to continue updating this resource.
ed with 15 crew members being kidnapped in the region. (https://www.maritimeglobalsecurity.org).
The Navy reporting office MDAT-GOG advised mariners
to exercise caution when transiting this area and register
with the MDAT-GOG as early as possible before entering
this region, also updating MDAT-GOG on their position fre-
quently to receive timely advice and alerts.
Reports showed that a total of 59 incidents were reported
in Asia during January-June 2023. No piracy incident was
reported during this period.
The shipping industry will continue to monitor and advise
on maritime security threats to assist the safe transit of ves-
sels and the seafarers who crew them. Pre-voyage threat
and risk assessments should still be carried out consider-

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