IMO has published the annual report on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships

The International Maritime Organization has published a circular containing the annual report on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships for the year 2022.

This report (MSC.4/Circ.267) was published on April 19th, 2023.

Global and regional trends in 2022

According to information received and made available in IMO’s GISIS module on piracy and armed robbery, 131 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported to the Organization as having occurred or been attempted in 2022.

In 2021, 172 incidents were reported, whereas the number was 229 incidents in 2020. This, therefore, constitutes a decrease of about 24% at the global level compared to last year, and the lowest number of reported incidents at the global level since 1995.

From the data referred to above, it also emerges that the areas most affected by acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships in 2022 were the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (72 incidents), West Africa (21 incidents), and South America (Pacific)* (14 incidents), followed by Indian Ocean (9 incidents), South America (Atlantic) (6 incidents), South America (Caribbean) (4 incidents), South China Sea (4 incidents) and Arabian Sea (1 incident).

The number of incidents that took place in the Gulf of Guinea (West Africa) decreased in 2022 by 17 compared to 2021, when 38 incidents were reported. This constitutes a decrease of about 45%.

The number of incidents involving hostage/kidnapped crew decreased by 5 to 2 incidents in 2022, with a total of 14 crew members reported as hostage/kidnapped (see annex 2). 71% of incidents in this region now occurs in international waters and it is almost on par with the global average of 70% (see annex 3).

The number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore increased to 72 from 70 incidents reported in 2021. About 81% of the incidents reported in 2022 were targeting a steaming ship in these Straits.