Berlin/London, Jan 15, (dpa/GNA) – The world’s oceans have become less safe for shipping, with an increased number of attacks by pirates.
The London-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported on Thursday that it recorded 137 attacks and attempted attacks last year. In 2024, there were 116. The figure was no higher in the three years prior to that.
The IMB, which maintains a reporting centre in Malaysia, is part of the International Chamber of Commerce.
According to the report, pirates boarded ships in 121 cases, hijacked four of them, and fired on two.
“Even though many incidents are classified as ‘minor’, the situation remains serious for seafarers,” the German branch of the International Chamber of Commerce said.
Eighty of the incidents occurred in the busy Strait of Singapore, which lies between Singapore and Indonesia. This corresponds to a share of 58.4%. According to older data from the shipping office, the strait accounts for about one third of global trade flows.
The report provides further details on one incident in March, when the crew of the container ship Callao Express noticed two unlit boats approaching the merchant ship at high speed near Ecuador. The crew alerted the authorities, increased speed and initiated evasive manoeuvres, whereupon the boats gave up the chase.
GNA