Figures released recently show an alarming increase in piracy incidents worldwide. The latest piracy hotspot is the Gulf of Guinea which has shown a 50% increase in piracy in the first nine months of 2023. There is a growing worry about crew safety with 54 being taken hostage, 14 kidnapped and two injured in this volatile area.

The Singapore Straits have also shown an increase in piracy incidents with 31 ships attacked and 5 crew taken hostage.

There has also been an increase of 63% in incidents in South America, in particular in the anchorage of Callao.

The Indonesian archipelago is another area showing an increase in incidents compared to 2022.

In total during this nine month period 69 crew were taken hostage, 14 kidnapped, 8 threatened, 3 injured and one assaulted.

It is unacceptable that our crews are being put at risk and there should be an international co-ordinated effort to stop these criminals and make the seas safer for our seafarers.