Pirates take record number of hostages

by Press Release on 2011-01-20

More seafarers were taken hostage by pirates last year than any other on record.

According to figures compiled by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), pirates captured 1,181 seafarers in 2010 and killed eight, an increase of 12.4% on 2009.

A total of 53 ships were hijacked last year, while the number of attacks on vessels increased by 10% to 445. The Director of the IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre, Capt Pottengal Mukundan, said: "The continued increase in these numbers is alarming.

"On the high seas off Somalia, heavily armed pirates are overpowering ocean-going fishing or merchant vessels to use as a base for further attacks.

"They capture the crew and force them to sail to within attacking distance of other unsuspecting vessels."

Hijackings off the coast of Somalia accounted for 92% of all ship seizures last year, with 49 vessels hijacked and 1,016 crew members taken hostage. A total of 28 vessels and 638 hostages were still being held for ransom by Somali pirates as of 31 December 2010.

While attacks off the coast of Somalia remain high, the number of incidents in the Gulf of Aden more than halved last year from the 117 in 2009.

IMB attributes this reduction to the deterrence work of naval forces that have been patrolling the area since 2008 and the application of self-protection measures.

JCTrans