Pirate attacks against ships increase, ICC report finds

Indonesian waters continue to have the highest number of attacks

London, 24 October 2002 - The ICC Piracy Report, released today, has recorded a significant increase in the number of piracy attacks on the world's oceans, rising from 253 incidents in the nine months of 2001 to 271 for the corresponding period in 2002.

Indonesia continues to record the highest number of attacks with 72 reported incidents, according to the report. Piracy attacks in Bangladesh are ranked second highest with 26. The report indicates that Bangladesh has seen an alarming increase of pirate attacks in the past three months.

Incidents of hijackings increased to 20 as compared to 15 in the first nine months of last year. The number of crew killed during pirate attacks fell to six as compared to nine in 2001. The figures also showed an increased use of weapons during attacks. The number of attacks using knives rose from 81 to 99.

"The incidents of hijackings have increased dramatically since 2000," said Captain Mukundun, Director of the ICC International Maritime Bureau. "These are serious and violent attacks, committed by organized crime groups. Crewmembers are often abducted or injured and both ship and cargo worth millions of dollars are often stolen. The IMB calls upon the governments in South East Asia to ratify the SUA Convention of 1988, which will give them jurisdiction over these crimes when the vessels are recovered."

The SUA Convention (Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Maritime Navigation Convention) allows sovereign governments to prosecute criminals operating in their territorial waters.

The ICC Piracy Report comes only two weeks after the bombing of the French tanker, VLCC Limberg in Yemeni waters.

"This raises the spectre of maritime terrorism against these extremely vulnerable vessels," Captain Mukundan said. "The IMB recommends that governments and port authorities consider prescribed traffic lanes for these vessels, where practicable, patrolled by Coast Guard vessels and kept free of all unauthorized craft."

The ICC Piracy Report also highlighted the increasing danger of piracy to ships off the Somali coastline.

According to the report, the risk of ships being attacked by armed militia operating there has become "alarmingly high" in the last nine months.

Ships which slow down or stop close to the Somali coast risk being boarded by these gangs who have so far been successful in extorting substantial sums from owners for the return of the vessel and the crew. Since January 2002 there have been four high-profile hijackings of commercial vessels off Somalia.

During the 3rd quarter of this year a new trend in piracy has emerged in Indonesian waters. Tugs towing barges laden with expensive cargoes have been hijacked. The IMB says it believes a gang is preying on valuable palm oil cargoes being towed off the Sumatran coast. In one incident, pirates armed with a gun and knives boarded the tug on 6 September 2002 and threw the 18 crew members overboard.

The report lists piracy prone areas in S E Asia, the Indian Sub Continent, Africa, Red Sea, South and Central America and the Caribbean waters.

The report also draws attention to new initiatives designed to combat piracy. It highlights a unique preventive system called Secure-Ship - a 9,000 volt, non-lethal, electrifying fence surrounding the ship,
which has been specially adapted for maritime use.

The fence uses a 9,000 volt pulse to deter boarding attempts. If the fence is tampered with, an alarm is triggered, activating floodlights and a siren.

The IMB's Report on piracy seeks not only to list the facts, but also to analyze developments in piracy and to identify piracy-prone areas so that crews can take preventive action.

Map highlighting attacks in Africa and the Middle East

Map highlighting attacks in South East Asia and Far East

Map highlighting attacks in

Monthly comparison of incidents during January to September 2002

Copies of the ICC Piracy Report, with breakdowns of reported attacks, are priced £18 (inclusive of postage) can be ordered from the IMB.

For further information, or to arrange an interview contact Captain Mukundan (in London) on +44 208 591 3000 or ICC Director of Communications in Paris. Email: Click here to send a mail or tel: +33 1 49 53 2907.