2023 in piracy

2023 in piracy was marked by 120 events of maritime piracy against ships, according to the annual Piracy and Armed Robbery Report of the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB).^[1] 105 vessels were boarded, nine additional attacks attempted, two fired upon, and four vessels hijacked.^[2]

A resurgence of piracy off the coast of Somalia continued.^[3][4] The hijacking of the Ruen by Somali pirates was their first successful attack on commercial shipping tankers since 2017.^[5][6]

The Singapore Strait^[7] Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel and the Somali Sea were frequent targets of armed robbery,^[8] with the Gulf of Guinea reporting three of the four hijackings of the year.^[2] In December, Somali pirates waged four attacks on commercial ships.^[9]

Hijackings only slightly increased from the previous year, from 115 to 120, yet with greater numbers of crew taken hostage and kidnapped in 2023.^[2] The IMB called for heightened caution for crew safety, with kidnappings steeply increased from 2022. In 2023, crew kidnappings increased sharply from 41 to 73.^[10]

Events

Monjasa Reformer

On March 25, the Monjasa Reformer Liberian-flagged tanker^[11] was hijacked in the Gulf of Guinea,^[12] about 140 nautical miles from Pointe Noire, Congo. The vessel was found five days later.^[13] Six kidnapped crew members were recovered May 8.^[14]

Success 9

On April 10, the Success 9 Singaporean-flagged tanker^[15] was boarded in the Gulf of Guinea, about 300 nautical miles (556 km) off Cote d’Ivoire, then found six days later off Abidjan.^[13]

MV Grebe Bulker

On May 2, bulk carrier MV Grebe Bulker,^[16] under the ensign of Marshall Islands,^[17] was boarded in the Port of Owendo, Gabon,^[16] resulting in a hostage situation.^[18] The ship's captain, second mate and third mate were kidnapped.^[19] The hostages were released after 18 days in captivity.^[20]

Galaxy Leader

Main article: Galaxy Leader § Hijacking in 2023

On November 19, 2023, Galaxy Leader, en route from Körfez, Turkey to Pipavav, India, and flagged under the ensign of Bahamas,^[21] was hijacked by Houthis in the Red Sea.^[22] Armed hijackers boarded the vessel by military helicopter.^[23] 25 crew were kidnapped, still remaining in captivity as at April 21, 2024.^[21]

Main article: Galaxy Leader § Hijacking in 2023

Al-Meraj 1

On November 22, Somali pirates hijacked the Iranian-flagged^[24] fishing dhow Al-Meraj 1, about 62 nautical miles south of the Ras Hafun peninsula, near the Qandala district of Puntland, with links between the hijackers and the Qandala district commander and other senior officials implicated.^[25] The vessel was boarded by a Somali clan militia, demanding $400,000 ransom.^[5]

MV Central Park

On November 26, Liberian-flagged oil tanker MV Central Park was seized off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden.^[26] Multilateral anti-piracy task force CTF 151 conducted a VBSS operation, rescuing MV Central Park and capturing the hijackers, suspected Somali pirates. The ship's crew was unharmed.^[27]

MV Ruen

On December 14, the first successful commercial ship hijacking since 2017 occurred off the coast of Somalia.^[2] Maltese-flagged^[28] MV Ruen was captured by Somali pirates.^[29] 17 crew were kidnapped,^[30] MV Ruen was rescued March 16, 2024, by the Indian Air Force.^[31]

Emarat-2

On December 22, 20 heavily armed Somali pirates hijacked a Yemeni fishing dhow, Emarat-2.^[9][32]

See also

Red Sea crisis—2023 Houthi attacks on commercial vessels

References

1. "Somali pirates are back on the attack at a level not seen in years, adding to global shipping threats". CNBC. 2024-02-06. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
2. "New IMB report reveals concerning rise in maritime piracy incidents in 2023". icc-ccs.org. International Chamber of Commerce. 2024-01-11. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
3. "Fears that pirates are returning to seas off Somalia". France24. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
4. "Hijacked ship off Somalia fuels fears pirates back in Red Sea waters". Reuters. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
5. "Somali pirates make their first return in years". Splash247. Asia Shipping Media. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
6. "Pirate ship capture showcases India's world-class special forces, analysts say". News Channel 21. KTVZ-TV. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
7. "IMB 2023 report highlights rise in maritime piracy". ship-technology.com. Ship Technology. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
8. "Explained: The rise and expansion of Somali pirates and what". News9 Live. 2024-02-01. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
9. "Somali Pirates Hijack Fishing Boat in Fourth Attack This Month". maritime-executive.com. The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
10. "New Report Reveals Concerning Rise in Maritime Piracy Incidents". Pacific Maritime Magazine. Maritime publishing. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
11. "Monjasa Reformer". Vessel Tracker. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
12. "Crew members missing after Gulf of Guinea pirate attack". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
13. "'All crew are safe': Missing tanker Success 9 found off Cote d'Ivoire". TradeWinds. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
14. "Six Monjasa Crewmembers Recovered from Pirates After Five Weeks". maritime-executive.com. The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
15. "Success 9". Vessel Tracker. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
16. "KIDNAPPED CREW MEMBERS RELEASED". Vessel Tracker. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
17. "Grebe Bulker". Vessel Tracker. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
18. "Maritime piracy: 2023 report". atlas-mag.net. Atlas Magazine. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
19. "Three crew members kidnapped from Eagle Bulk supramax anchored off Gabon". TradeWinds. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
20. "Kidnapped crew of Grebe Bulker returns home". safety4sea.com. Safety4Sea. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
21. "Galaxy Leader". Vessel Tracker. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
22. "Two ships divert course away from Red Sea area after vessel seized by Houthis". Reuters. November 20, 2023. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
23. "Analysis: Iran-backed Yemen rebels' helicopter-borne attack on ship raises risks in crucial Red Sea". pnews.com. Associated Press. 2023-11-21. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
24. "Menaj 1". Vessel Tracker. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
25. "Puntland Officials Allegedly Linked to Iranian Boat Hijacking". HalqabsiNews. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
26. "Tanker in Middle East safe from attackers after U.S. Navy responds, officials say". Reuters. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
27. "US Navy seizes attackers who held Israel-linked tanker. Missiles from rebel-controlled Yemen follow". Associated Press. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
28. "Ruen". Vessel Tracker. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
29. "The EU's naval force says a cargo ship hijacked last week has moved toward the coast of Somalia". AP News. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
30. "Hijacked ship may have been used in attack near Somalia, security groups say". Reuters. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
31. Peri, Dinakar (2024-04-21). "Indian Navy's 40-hour operation! Pirates shot down Navy's drone, Marine Commandos airdropped". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
32. "WORLDWIDE: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report, 20 December–17 January 2024" (PDF). oni.navy.mil. Office of Naval Intelligence. p. 10. Retrieved 21 April 2024.