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ACTS of piracy and armed robbery against ships have jumped by 37% compared
with the second quarter of 2006, says the ICC International Maritime Bureau
(IMB).
IMB's report for the second quarter said heavily armed attackers hijacked 13
vessels, 152 crewmembers were taken hostage, 41 kidnapped and three were
killed. In 66 cases, either guns or knives were used.
Despite a spike in the second quarter, the six-month total remains on par
with last year, with the total number of attacks for the first six months of
2007 totalling 126, as compared with 127 in the corresponding period in
2006.
IMB Director Captain Pottengal Mukundan said despite a sustained drop in
acts of piracy over the past three years, the statistics for the second
quarter of this year suggested that the world might be seeing a reversal of
this trend.
“Somalia and Nigeria remain very dangerous and high-risk areas with large
numbers of violent kidnappings and hostage takings.
“In Nigeria, 19 incidents have been reported, including the boarding of 15
vessels and one hijacking. Forty crew members have been kidnapped and 24
taken hostage this year,” he said.
These attacks appear to be operated by a few local groups, claiming their
actions are in pursuit of political goals. Offshore supply vessels and their
crew are frequently identified as potential targets for kidnap and ransom,
although cargo ships have also been targeted.
Commenting on specific elements of piracy in the region, Captain Mukundan
added: “Off the coast of Lagos, oil tankers conducting ship-to-ship
operations in anchorages and tankers moored have become particularly
vulnerable targets.”
In Somalia, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre has recorded 17 incidents so far
this year. This is a dramatic increase over the ten attacks recorded
throughout 2006.
Since early this year, eight vessels were hijacked, with 85 crewmembers
taken hostage.
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