Global Anti-Piracy Body Calls for Continued Vigilance off Somalia Coastline Despite Falling Attacks

MOGADISHU Xinhua: International Maritime Bureau (IMB), a global anti-piracy body, has emphasized the need for continued vigilance, despite a sharp decline in piracy attacks off the Somalia coastline during the first nine months of 2024.

The IMB said in the latest report available to Xinhua that three vessels were hijacked, two were boarded and fired upon, and one reported an attempted approach in the waters off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden in the period.

“IMB has not received reports of any maritime piracy incidents from vessels transiting these waters between July and September, possibly due to the prevalence of monsoons,” said the report.

The IMB Piracy Reporting Center (PRC) cautioned vessel owners and operators against complacency, highlighting that recent incidents demonstrate Somali pirates’ continued capability to target ships more than 1,000 nautical miles from the Somali coast.

While the IMB continues to monitor the situation, it noted although only eight Somali piracy incidents were recorded, several hijackings of dhows and fishing boats may have gone unreported.

The anti-piracy watchdog advised all vessels to comply with the latest maritime regulations while transiting the area.

Globally, the report revealed that piracy and armed robbery incidents fell to their lowest levels since 1994. The IMB and its PRC, however, warned that crew safety remains a significant concern.

From January to September, 79 incidents were reported worldwide, down from 99 during the same period last year. Of these, 62 vessels were boarded, six were hijacked, nine faced attempted attacks, and two were fired upon.

“This is an important time to reinforce our message not to be complacent, and for vessel owners and operators to adhere to IMB guidelines. We commend governments and law enforcement for their excellent work, which has made this improvement possible,” said IMB Director Michael Howlett.

In the Gulf of Guinea, 12 incidents were reported, marking the lowest number of incidents in the region since 1996. Despite this drop, concerns remain for crew safety, with 11 crew members kidnapped and 21 taken hostages.

IMB encouraged all shipmasters and owners to report all actual, attempted, and suspected global piracy and armed robbery incidents to the PRC as a vital first step to ensuring adequate resources are allocated by authorities to tackle maritime piracy.