Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Superyacht security on the high seas MARSS / Illustration Jim Dobson Despite lower-than-average piracy incidents this year, the shipping and yachting industry continues to pressure all vessels to remain vigilant as violent attacks remain a concern. The International Chamber of Commerce International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Center (IMB) detailed that sixty incidents of piracy and armed robbery against commercial ships were recorded in the first half of 2024, a decrease from 65 incidents for the same period in 2023. ICC Secretary General John W.
H. Denton AO says, “While we are reassured to see a fall in the number of overall reported acts of piracy, the concerning rise in incidents of a violent nature underscores the need for continued vigilance from the international community to ensure the safety of all seafarers — especially at this time of heightened uncertainty for maritime transport.” Of the 60 incidents reported this year, 46 vessels were boarded, eight reported attempted attacks, four were hijacked, and two were fired upon.
Perpetrators successfully boarded 85% of targeted vessels. Luxury yacht rendering with protection system getty Violence towards crew continues, with 85 taken hostage compared to 36 in the same period last year, with 11 kidnapped and two threatened. Guns and knives were reported in 34 of the 59 incidents, a worrying increase from the same period the previous year.
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