Piracy and robbery are still real dangers

THE world's attention right now may be on combating coronavirus but the oceans' criminals are not heeding the "stay at home" advice. They still see merchant ships and their crews as their prey.

Warnings that the industry must not drop its guard have come from both the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) and the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC)

IMB warns that seafarers face continuing threats from pirates and armed robbers on the world's seas, and reports 47 attacks in the first three months of 2020, up from 38 in the same period last year. Pirates actually boarded 37 ships in the first quarter of 2020.

Meanwhile, ISC has reported a three-fold increase in the total number of incidents reported during January-March 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. There were a total of 29 reported incidents of armed robbery against ships, comprising 28 actual incidents and one attempted incident, in Asia during January to March this year. That compares to 10 incidents, comprising nine actual incidents and one attempted incident during the same period last year.

All incidents reported during January-March 2020 were armed robbery against ships as opposed to piracy which involves taking over control of the vessel.

More incidents occurred during Q1 2020 than a year previously in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and the Singapore Strait.

On a positive note, no incident was reported in China during Q1 2020 compared to three during Q1 2019. Also, perpetrators were arrested off Gujarat in India, at Chittagong Anchorage in Bangladesh and in the Singapore Strait.

Nevertheless, ISC notes: "Of concern was the continued increase of incidents on board ships while underway in the Singapore Strait during January-March 2020; nine incidents were reported in the Singapore Strait during January-March 2020 compared to two incidents during the same period in 2019."

ISC is again calling on law enforcement agencies to "enhance surveillance, increase patrols and respond promptly to incidents reported by ships in order to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators".

The centre also strongly advises ship masters and crew to "exercise vigilance, maintain constant lookout for suspicious boats in the vicinity, report all incidents immediately to the nearest coastal state, and implement preventive measures recommended in the Regional Guide to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia".

Staying vigilant

However, although there are increased concerns in Asia, IMB's latest report makes clear that the Gulf of Guinea remains the world's piracy hotspot. During Q1 this year 17 crew were kidnapped in three incidents in these waters, at distances of between 45 and 75 nautical miles from the coast.

IMB's latest global piracy report shows no hijackings in the last two quarters, and no incidents around Somalia. But with no sign of a reduction in attacks worldwide, IMB encourages shipowners to stay vigilant, calling for continued international cooperation.

"Navy patrols, onboard security measures, cooperation and transparent information exchange between authorities, are all factors which help address the crimes of piracy and armed robbery," said IMB director Michael Howlett.

"The threat to crew is, however, still real - whether from violent gangs, or opportunistic armed thieves inadvertently coming face-to-face with the crew. Ships' masters must continue to follow industry best practice diligently and maintain watches. Early detection of an approaching pirate skiff is often key to avoiding an attack,"

IMB's 24-hour Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) recorded 21 attacks in the Gulf of Guinea in Q1 2020. Of these, 12 were on vessels underway at an average of 70 nautical miles off the coast. All vessel types are at risk. The perpetrators are usually armed. They approach in speedboats, boarding ships in order to steal stores or cargo and abduct crew members to demand a ransom.

Worryingly, while 10 vessels were fired upon worldwide during the whole of 2019, four have already reported being shot at within the Nigerian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in Q1 2020.

"The IMB PRC commends regional coastal state response agencies and international navies in the Gulf of Guinea region for actively responding to reported incidents," said Mr Howlett.

But, with many more attacks going unreported, IMB advises seafarers in the region to follow the recently published 'Best Management Practices West Africa'.

That advice is fine as far as it goes but piracy remains shipping's unacceptable "elephant in the room". The industry always manages to carry on, whatever is thrown at. But doing so puts seafarers in grave danger. It should not be happening.

Last year there seemed to be a real head of steam behind moves to get the relevant governments to act decisively. Let's hope that push will not become just another victim of Covid-19.