IMB says piracy at “27-year low”
Although the number of attacks at sea has dropped, 50 crew were kidnapped and one killed in the first half of 2021.
The International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has announced that piracy is at a 27-year low, but has warned the shipping industry against becoming complacent.
The IMB said there were 68 incidents of piracy and maritime crime reported between January and June this year, down from 98 for the same period last year.
Despite the overall decline, 50 crew have been kidnapped and one killed, so far this year. The Gulf of Guinea continues to be a particularly dangerous hotspot, the organisation said, accounting for 32% of all reported incidents.
“The number of kidnappings recorded in the Gulf of Guinea in the last quarter is the lowest since the second quarter of 2019, but pirates continue to target all vessel types throughout the region,” the IMB said.
