In the second quarter of this year there were 38 acts of piracy against ships, eleven more than the previous quarter and 81% more than the second quarter of 2022. Incidents that occurred during the period April-June 2023 involved 13 bulk carriers, nine container ships, nine tankers and seven other vessels type. A total of 33 ships were boarded, two more was the subject of an attempted attack, a ship was Seized and two ships were shot. During the assaults, 34 seafarers were taken hostage, Eight were kidnapped and two injured.

In the first half of this year there were 65 accidents compared to 58 in the first half of 2022. The ships boarded There were 57, two were seized and two others were subject to of gunshots while four suffered an attempt to attack. In the first six months of 2023, seafarers taken hostage There were 36, 14 kidnapped, two injured and a seaman State attacked.

'The resurgence of reported incidents, including taking hostage and kidnapping crews in Gulf waters of Guinea - commented the direct of the International Maritime Bureau, Michael Howlett - it's worrying. The IMB asks for a Continuous and consistent regional and international naval presence as a deterrent to deal with these crimes."

Particularly consistent was the growth of acts of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, with five incidents occurred in the first quarter of this year and nine in the quarter following. During these assaults, 14 members were kidnapped. crews, eight of which are taken from ships anchored in waters Territorial. "We urge the authorities once again Gulf of Guinea regional and the international community - said Howlett - to refocus their attention on the region, to establish long-term sustainable solutions that address these crimes effectively and protect communities maritime and fisheries'.

Although less serious, in the first half of 2023 acts of piracy in the Singapore Strait (20 compared to 16 in the first half of 2022), while those in the region have definitely decreased of the Indonesian archipelago where seven have been reported accidents. In Central and South America there were 13 accidents as follows: As in the first six months of 2022.