No.1253
15 January 2024

To the Members
2023 Annual IMB Piracy and Armed Robbery Report

We have received the 2023 annual piracy and armed robbery report from the International Maritime Bureau Piracy
Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) together with the summary below. For more details, please refer to the attached files.
Summary
The 2023 IMB annual report recorded 120 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships in 2023
compared to 115 in 2022. There was a 91% success rate in vessel boarding with 105 vessels boarded, nine attemptedattacks, four vessels hijacked and two fired upon. The IMB urges caution for crew safety as the number of crew taken
hostage and kidnapped increased from 41 to 73 and from two to 14 in 2022 and 2023 respectively. A further 10 crew
were threatened, four injured and one assaulted in 2023.
The majority of the successful incidents were reported while vessels were anchored or steaming as per below.
Status when Attacked
ANCHORED
BERTHEDSTEAMING

ATTEMPTED BOARDED FIREDUPON HIJACKED Grand Total
55626311011339446

Grand Total

910524120

Regions where incidents reported.
RegionAFRICA
GULF OFGUINEAAMERICAS
EAST ASIA
INDIAN SUBCONTINENT
SE ASIAGrand Total

ATTEMPTED

34

BOARDED FIREDUPON
314152HIJACKED Grand Total
1432219332565

567910524120

https://www.piclub.or.jp

Somali Piracy
The successful hijacking of a merchant vessel in December 2023; the first since 2017; does raise the question – hasSomali based piracy resurrected? Dhows, traditionally used as mother ships have also been reported as hijacked.
These incidents are a cause of concern as they demonstrate the continued capabilities of the Somali pirates. The IMB
is once again calling for all masters and vessel owners to continue following the recommendations and reporting
procedures as per the latest version of the Best Management Practices (BMP).
Gulf of Guinea
While the number of reported incidents continues to be lower than 2021 (35 reported incidents) and 2020 (84 reportedincidents), there has been an increase compared to 2022 (19 reported incidents). In 2023, however, these waters
accounted for three of the four globally reported hijackings, all 14 crew kidnappings, 75% of reported crew hostagesand two injured crew in 2023. Considering the sustained targeting of seafarers, the IMB is apprehensive of theperceived reduction of incidents and continues to urge all vessels transiting these waters to follow recommended
BMP guidelines and report incidents to the regional reporting centres and the IMB PRC as soon as there is a suspicionof an approaching threat.

Asia (Singapore Straits)
Incidents in the Singapore Straits continue to remain high with 37 in 2023 compared to 38 in 2022. Vessels weresuccessfully boarded in 95% of the reported incidents. Sixteen vessels, mainly bulk carriers over 80,000 DWT wereboarded. Of these six were over 170,000 DWT. Whilst reported predominately as low-level opportunistic thefts,
nine crew were taken hostage in 2023 compared to four in 2022 and a further two crew were threatened during theseincidents. Knives were reported from 15 incidents and guns in a further three. Majority of incidents were reported
during the hours of darkness and whilst vessels were underway. Owners and operators are encouraged to report allincidents to Singapore VTIS and the IMB PRC in a timely manner.

JAPAN P&I CLUB | 2Asia (Indonesia)
There has been a year-on-year increase in reported incidents in the Indonesian archipelago, up from 10 in 2022 to 18in 2023. Weapons were reported in 50% of the incidents. Seven crew were threatened and two taken hostage in 2023.
Caribbean, Central and South America
Fourteen vessels at Callao anchorage in Peru have reported being boarded. Seven crew were taken hostage and one
each assaulted and threatened. Guns and knives were reported in nine incidents.
Yours faithfully,
The Japan Ship Owners’ Mutual Protection & Indemnity Association

Attachment: 2023 Annual IMB Piracy and Armed Robbery Report - MEDIA RELEASE
2023 Annual IMB Piracy and Armed Robbery Report
IMB Annual Piracy Report 2023 Trends

JAPAN P&I CLUB | 3MEDIA RELEASELondon, 11 January 2024

STRICTLY EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 07:00 (GMT) THURSDAY, 11 JANUARY 2024
New IMB report reveals concerning rise in maritime piracy incidents in 2023

Released today, the annual Piracy and Armed Robbery Report of the ICC International Maritime
Bureau (IMB) raises concern over the first successful Somali based hijacking since 2017.
The IMB annual report recorded 120 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships in2023 compared to 115 in 2022.
The 2023 annual report reveals that 105 vessels were boarded, nine attempted attacks, four vessels
hijacked and two fired upon.
Where the number of 2023 reported incidents has slightly increased compared to 2022, the IMB urges
caution for crew safety as the number of crew taken hostage and kidnapped increased from 41 to 73
and from two to 14 in 2022 and 2023 respectively. A further 10 crew were threatened, four injured
and one assaulted in 2023.
Alarming first successful hijacking off Somalia since 2017
On 14 December 2023 the report recorded the first successful hijacking of a vessel off the coast ofSomalia since 2017.
A handymax bulk carrier was boarded and hijacked by alleged Somali pirates. The incident took placearound 700 nautical miles (nm) East of Bosaso in Somalia. Reports also suggest two dhows were
subsequently hijacked, a type of vessel with potential use as mother ships for further attacks.
IMB Director Michael Howlett said: “This is a cause for concern and the IMB is once again calling for
all masters and vessel owners to continue following the recommendations and reporting proceduresas per the latest version of the Best Management Practices,” adding that the incident demonstrates
the continued capabilities of the Somali pirates.
Three of four reported vessel hijackings in Gulf of Guinea
Despite the continued restraint in the number of reported incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, with 22 in
2023 compared to 19 in 2022, 35 in 2021 and 81 in 2020, these waters accounted for three of the fourglobally reported hijackings, all 14 crew kidnappings, and 75% of reported crew hostages and two
injured crew in 2023 – continuing to be dangerous waters for seafarers.
Concerns for crew safety in Singapore Straits, Malacca Straits and Indonesian archipelago
The Singapore Straits remain an area of concern due to the high number of incidents. While considered
low level opportunistic crimes, 95% of reported incidents were successful, with 37 reported incidents
overall in 2023 compared to 38 in 2022. Crew continue to be harmed with nine taken hostage and two
threatened. Guns were reported in three recorded incidents and knives in 15.

“We are concerned due to the late reporting and under reporting by vessels. The IMB continues toencourage timely reporting of all incidents, as it contributes to a more accurate understanding of risk,”said IMB Director Michael Howlett.
One crew member was injured and required medical attention after a bulk carrier was boarded in theMalacca Straits in October 2023. The last reported incident of crew injured by pirates in the area wasin 2015.
A year-on-year increase in reported incidents has been observed in the Indonesian archipelago, up
from 10 in 2022 to 18 in 2023. Weapons were reported in 50% of the incidents. Seven crew werethreatened and two taken hostage in 2023.
Looming threats in South America
Fourteen incidents were reported from vessels at Callao anchorage in Peru. Seven crew were taken
hostage and one each assaulted and threatened. Guns and knives were reported in nine incidents.
Other ports affected in South America were Macapa anchorage in Brazil, and Cartagena and Puerto
Bolivar anchorages in Colombia.

Request a copy of the 2023 Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships report here.

About IMB Piracy Reporting CentreSince its founding in 1991, IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre serves as a crucial, 24-hour point of contact
to report crimes of piracy and lend support to ships under threat. Quick reactions and a focus on
coordinating with response agencies, sending out warning broadcasts and email alerts to ships have
all helped bolster security on the high seas. The data gathered by the Centre also provides key insights
on the nature and state of modern piracy.
IMB encourages all shipmasters and owners to report all actual, attempted and suspected global
piracy and armed robbery incidents to the Piracy Reporting Centre as a vital first step to ensuring
adequate resources are allocated by authorities to tackle maritime piracy.
For more information, please contact:
Michael Howlett
Director, ICC International Maritime Bureau
Tel: +44 207 423 6960
Email: mhowlett@icc-ccs.org

About the International Chamber of Commerce
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the institutional representative of more than 45
million companies in over 170 countries. ICC’s core mission is to make business work for everyone,
every day, everywhere. Through a unique mix of advocacy, solutions and standard setting, we
promote international trade, responsible business conduct and a global approach to regulation, inaddition to providing market-leading dispute resolution services. Our members include many of theworld’s leading companies, SMEs, business associations and local chambers of commerce.

IMBPIRACYREPORTLoreJANUARY-DECEMBER2023
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