Piracy and sea robbery which spiked in Southern Nigeria in the build-up to the last general elections have once again drawn global attention to the country, where United Kingdom’s leading maritime risk and intelligence gathering outfit; Dryad Maritime has disclosed in its latest report that, 20 sea men were abducted from their ships and water crafts between April and May.
Dryad released its analysis of worldwide reported incidents of piracy and crime against mariners from 1st April to 30th June 2015, and highlighted the spike in attacks in Nigeria.
Piracy and sea robbery which spiked in Southern Nigeria in the build-up to the last general elections have once again drawn global attention to the country, where United Kingdom’s leading maritime risk and intelligence gathering outfit; Dryad Maritime has disclosed in its latest report that, 20 sea men were abducted from their ships and water crafts between April and May.
Dryad released its analysis of worldwide reported incidents of piracy and crime against mariners from 1st April to 30th June 2015, and highlighted the spike in attacks in Nigeria.
On attacks in the Gulf of Guinea, where Nigeria is dominant player, it said, “kidnapping of crew for ransom remains the most significant threat to mariners in the Gulf of Guinea”
Specifically, Dryad reported that “at least 20 mariners were taken from vessels off the shores of Rivers and Akwa Ibom States in Nigeria in April and May”.
The body however noted that, maritime crime in Southeast Asia sees a 22% increase in first half of 2015.
Dryad’s latest figures show that Southeast Asia continues to dominate maritime crime incidents globally, with 120 reports of piracy and maritime crime instances occurring in the region since 1st January 2015, an increase of 22% compared to the first six months of 2014. Of these reported incidents, 12 were vessel hijackings – an increase of three compared to the same period last year.
According to the report which was released yesterday, the conflict in Yemen and Libya, and the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean; the report outlines the diverse and complex threats that shipping companies and mariners face.
Dryad notes that the arrest of two sets of hijackers this year will likely result in a slowdown in the numbers of small product tankers being hijacked in the region, but it fully expects a return of attempted hijacks in July, as the criminal gangs involved have proved themselves to be both resilient and adaptable.
Ian Millen, Chief Operating Officer, Dryad Maritime;
“Our latest figures for piracy and maritime crime highlight the uncertain, chaotic and, sometimes, dangerous nature of global maritime operations. The continued containment of the Somali piracy threat is both welcome and a testament to the measures taken to tackle it, but other areas give us more cause for concern. Southeast Asia is in urgent need of a joined-up effort to tackle the criminal gangs who are hijacking small regional tankers and robbing other vessels in transit, with the Singapore Strait being in dire need of some effective, coordinated action.
The wars in Yemen and Libya and the security integrity of important arteries like Suez, bring their own complexities to maritime operations. From restrictions on maritime trade in Libya and Yemen, terrorism concerns in the Suez Canal zone and the pressures of becoming engaged in mass migration rescue operations, mariners, and those who have a duty of care to them have a plenty to think about. As if that wasn’t enough, we’ve seen vessels attacked by military and rebel forces off Libyan ports and others fired upon and detained in the Arabian Gulf.”
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