The number of acts of piracy against ships is stable

In the first three months of 2022 the most popular type of ships targeted by pirates was that of bulk carriers with 19 units attacked (12 in the first three months of last year); followed by tankers with 12 units (7), container ships with 2 (9) and other ships with 4 units attached (10).

The IMB has specified that of the total of the accidents that occurred in the first three months of 2022, almost half (41%) verified in the waters of Southeast Asia, in particular in the Strait of Singapore where 11 attacks took place compared to six last year, while there was a reduction in events in the Gulf of Guinea region with seven incidents reported since the beginning of the year compared to 16 in the same period of 2021. The IMB has highlighted however it is necessary ensure the safety of seafarers operating at all times in the West African region, which remains a risk zone as evidenced by the hijacking of last January 24 off the coast of the Ivory Coast of a product tanker during which all 17 crew members were taken hostage. In addition reports of armed robberies have also come from ships at anchor in the waters of Angola and Ghana. The persistent dangerousness of the area, noted the International Maritime Bureau, is also witnessed by a recent attack and boarding of a Panamax bulk carrier on April 3rd off the coast of Ghana. Informed of this incident, the IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre immediately alerted the regional authorities and international military vessels: a naval unit and a helicopter of the Navy Italiana immediately intervened saving the crew and escorting the ship to a safe port.

In addition to that of the Strait of Singapore, another area that continues to cause concern is that of the waters Peruvian. If 10 have occurred at South American ports accidents, equal to 27% of the world total, the anchorage area at Callao, in Peru, is the one most at risk with six incidents reported in the first three months of this year compared to five in the same period of 2021 and only one in 2019. Three incidents have also been reported in the anchorage area of Macapa, off the coast of Brazil.

Finally, the IMB has specified that, although since the beginning of this year no accidents have been reported in the waters off the Sea Southern red and in the Gulf of Aden, however in this area the threat of piracy is still present as the Somali pirates continue to have the ability and the possibility of conducting attacks.