International Anti-Piracy Organization Urges Ongoing Vigilance Near Somali Shores Despite Decline in Attacks
MOGADISHU (Xinhua) — The International Maritime Bureau (IMB), a global force combating piracy, has expressed the ongoing necessity for alertness. Even with the notable downturn in piracy incidents along the Somali coast during 2024’s initial nine months, vigilance remains key.
As per the latest dossier shared with Xinhua, the IMB recounted that three ships ended up hijacked, two were commandeered or shot at, and there was an attempt to accost another vessel around the Somali waters and the Gulf of Aden during this period.
“The IMB has gone without any reports of maritime piracy between July and September in these waters,” the report relayed, hinting at the monsoon’s heavy hand possibly keeping piratical activities at bay.
The IMB Piracy Reporting Center (PRC) rang the caution bell for shipowners and managers, reminding them that recent events highlight how Somali pirates can still strike ships over 1,000 nautical miles from their home shores.
Although the IMB remains vigilant in observing conditions, it admitted that, apart from the eight recorded Somali piracy episodes, multiple dhow and fishing boat hijackings might have slipped under the radar.
This anti-piracy organization urged all vessels to stay abreast of and follow the contemporary maritime laws when cruising through the region.
This snapshot, snapped on Aug. 3, 2024, captures the sandy stretch by the Lido Beach Hotel in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. (Photo by Hassan Bashi/Xinhua)
On a global scale, the rundown disclosed a drop in piracy and armed robbery incidents, marking the lowest figures since the days of yore, circa 1994. However, both the IMB and its PRC noted that the security of ship crews continues to be a paramount issue.
Fitting between the bookends of January and September, 79 occurrences were logged worldwide, a decline from the 99 noted in the equivalent period a year earlier. On the detail front, 62 ships got boarded, six were commandeered, nine faced attempted raids, and another duo was fired upon.
“We’re at a juncture where it’s imperative to reiterate that complacency is not an option,” Michael Howlett, the IMB Director, underscored. “Shipmasters and owners must stick to IMB protocols. Hats off to governments and enforcement bodies for their sterling efforts paving this positive trend.”
Zooming into the Gulf of Guinea, there were a mere dozen incidents tallied, a nadir in regional records since ’96. Yet, crew protection remains a sticky wicket as 11 crew members were taken captive and 21 held against their will.
The IMB implored all captains and ship proprietors to report every genuine, attempted, or ghostly piracy and armed robbery occurrence to the PRC. Such early alerts are crucial for authorities to muster the necessary assets to confront piracy.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
