UK maritime intelligence player Dryad Maritime said piracy levels had fallen by 27% in the third quarter 2014 compared to the preceding three months but attacks are continuing.
South-East Asia was highlighted as one of the problem areas, with five hijackings of product tankers near Singapore, while the Gulf of Guinea has seen a surge in attacks.
“In addition, a further eight vessels were boarded while at anchor, taking the total number of similar incidents to 30 so far in 2014 although recent reports indicate that another tanker is currently missing since 3 October, presumed hijacked,” the report said.
“By contrast, in 2013, there were just nine incidents in the same period.”
Dryad Maritime chief operating officer Ian Millen said the number of attacks happening throughout the world indicates the threat to the shipping industry.
“We can expect to see a continuation in incidents of boarding and cargo theft in South-east Asia and in the Gulf of Guinea as criminal groups continue to prey upon the vulnerable and the unprepared,” he said.
“At the time of writing, another suspect vessel is on the loose, probably looking for a victim off Gabon or even further south.”
– Upstream
