Piracy Incidents Down 32% Year-on-Year Last Year... Increase in Singapore and America Waters

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Last year, the number of piracy incidents worldwide decreased by 32.3% to 132 cases compared to the previous year. The government stated that although the overall number of piracy incidents declined, some regions such as Singapore and the Americas saw an increase in piracy, necessitating thorough preparedness.

According to the "2021 Global Piracy Incident Trends" released by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on the 4th, piracy incidents worldwide last year dropped by 32.3% from 2020 to 132 cases. The number of crew kidnappings decreased by 57% from 135 in 2020 to 57.

The Ministry analyzed that the decrease in piracy incidents last year was due to self-regulatory activities by West African coastal countries and international community efforts. The government explained, "The efforts of the international community, including self-regulatory activities by West African coastal countries where pirates mainly appear, have had some effect."

West African pirates, based primarily in Nigeria, saw piracy incidents drop by more than half to 35 cases from 84 the previous year, influenced by policies such as the 'Deep Blue Project' and the 'Anti-Piracy Act' implemented by the Nigerian government last year to eradicate piracy. Among these, 29 cases decreased in Nigerian waters.

However, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries viewed this decrease as likely due more to international political attention and geopolitical circumstances limiting pirate activities rather than a reduction in piracy itself. It predicted that unless fundamental issues such as poverty, unemployment, and security problems in West Africa improve, piracy could resurge.

In Asian waters last year, a total of 59 piracy incidents occurred, 17 fewer than the previous year. Although the number of piracy incidents decreased due to strengthened patrols by coastal countries such as Indonesia, piracy incidents in the Singapore Strait, a major shipping route, surged sharply, requiring vessels navigating the area to exercise special caution.

In the Somalia and Gulf of Aden waters where the Republic of Korea Cheonghae Unit is deployed, only one attempted attack occurred last year, with no significant piracy incidents reported; however, ships suspected of piracy were continuously observed.

Ko Joon-sung, Director of Maritime Safety Management at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "Although the overall number of piracy incidents decreased last year, piracy increased in some areas such as the Singapore Strait and the Americas. Especially in West African waters, piracy incidents targeting crew ransoms remain rampant, so we hope that thorough preparation will be made by referring to the latest piracy trends and guidelines provided by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.