Maritime piracy fell to a six-year low in 2013, according to a report recently released by the International Maritime Bureau.
This drop was largely attributed to more stringent measures to combat Somali piracy, including using armed guards aboard ships, increasing naval patrols and further efforts to stabilize the government in Somalia.
Just 264 pirate attacks were reported around the world in 2013. This represents a 40 percent drop from 2011, the time when attacks by Somali pirates peaked. In fact, just 15 piracy incidents were reported off the Somali coast last year.
While this is good news, the bad news is that piracy off Nigeria has increased. There were 36 people kidnapped and held for ransom, as well as one person killed, by Nigerian-based pirates.
Attacks off Nigeria accounted for 31 of the regions 51 attacks last year. That’s the highest number since 2008.
Of the piracy attacks around the globe, more than 50 percent were reported in Indonesia. However, the IMB reports these attacks to be “low-level opportunistic thefts, not to be compared with the more serious incidents off Africa.”
The maritime piracy attorneys at Maintenance and Cure have represented seamen and crewmembers of vessels that have been involved in pirate incidents.
