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Theft robbery and piracy at seas
From January to June 2022, the IFC recorded 59 incidents. This was higher compared to the same period in 2021 (42), and 2020 (57), but lower than 2019 (65). The overall increase is likely due to the combination of factors such as:
- The economic impact of COVID-19, which may have driven more people to resort to crime at sea to make ends meet.
- More incidents being shared with the IFC.
- More active reporting by shippers, possibly due to increased trust that authorities would take action.
The areas that recorded the highest number of incidents thus far in 2022 were:
- The Singapore Strait.
- Chittagong Port, Bangladesh.
- Belawan Anchorage, Indonesia.
Tankers were the most targeted ships with 20 incidents (35%), followed by bulk carriers (33%). Other types targeted were tugs-and-barges (10%), fishing vessels (10%), container ships (3), small boats (2), barges (1), vehicle carriers (1), pleasure craft (1), oil platforms (1), and cargo vessels (1).
In the Singapore strait, bulk carriers remain the prime target (50%), followed by tankers (36%) and tugs-and-barges (14%). This is mainly due to their slower speed and low freeboard. For incidents at anchorages and ports, tankers and bulk carriers were the prime targets, especially in Chittagong, Bangladesh, and Belawan, Indonesia.
