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| The new pirate era: 6 charts that reveal how piracy has changed and grown in recent years | The new pirate era: 6 charts that reveal how piracy has changed and grown in recent years |
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| There has not been a single successful Somali pirate attack so far this year. | There has not been a single successful Somali pirate attack so far this year. |
| That statistic tells the story of an astonishing turnaround since 2011, when East African pirates captured nearly 300 ships, many of them high-value targets, and held hundreds of people hostage. | |
| An international crackdown on piracy in the region has devastated a criminal industry that just a few years ago was thriving. | An international crackdown on piracy in the region has devastated a criminal industry that just a few years ago was thriving. |
| Bill Box from SaveOurSeaFarers charity credits the "involvement of joint naval forces, use by ships of armed guards, and adherence by ships to best practice guidelines" for reducing the successful number of pirate attacks to nil. | Bill Box from SaveOurSeaFarers charity credits the "involvement of joint naval forces, use by ships of armed guards, and adherence by ships to best practice guidelines" for reducing the successful number of pirate attacks to nil. |
| Following a explosion in Somali piracy late last decade, a series of dramatic incidents drew the media's attention and prompted action from the international community — not least because the Gulf of Aden is one of the world's most important trade routes. | Following a explosion in Somali piracy late last decade, a series of dramatic incidents drew the media's attention and prompted action from the international community — not least because the Gulf of Aden is one of the world's most important trade routes. |
| 26 seafarers are still held by Somali pirates following the release of four hostages earlier this year; those remaining captives were picked up in March 2012 and their families last heard from them in February 2013. | |
| SaveOurSeaFarers says there are 38 people currently held hostage around the world. 140 hostages were taken in the first three months of this year, three times as many as over the same period last year, and the vast majority were released after the robbery was finished. | |
| But as the world has focused on East Africa, it failed to tackle piracy in the Gulf of Guinea or prevent the resurgence of maritime crime in South East Asian waters. | |
| The above map comes from a Towergate Insurance analysis of global piracy | The above map comes from a Towergate Insurance analysis of global piracy |
| West African pirates 'more violent' and less reported | West African pirates 'more violent' and less reported |
| On the other side of Africa, the number of attacks has remained consistent for years — far fewer than at the height of the Somali pirate boom. | On the other side of Africa, the number of attacks has remained consistent for years — far fewer than at the height of the Somali pirate boom. |
| But, according to Cyrus Mody from the International Maritime Bureau, the yearly average of 50 pirate attacks in the waters of West Africa betrays the scale of the problem. | |
| Mody says there's a "significant lack of positive of reporting in the region," estimating that 60-70 per cent of attacks remain unconfirmed — and that's only incidents of a certain size. In addition to that, pirate raids on small local fishing boats are even more rarely reported. | Mody says there's a "significant lack of positive of reporting in the region," estimating that 60-70 per cent of attacks remain unconfirmed — and that's only incidents of a certain size. In addition to that, pirate raids on small local fishing boats are even more rarely reported. |
| Unlike their East African counterparts, pirates from these territories are not as showy, they don't take as many hostages and their ransom demands are not often exorbitant. | Unlike their East African counterparts, pirates from these territories are not as showy, they don't take as many hostages and their ransom demands are not often exorbitant. |
| Somalian pirates, for instance, would ask for anywhere between $150,000 and $20 million for the vessel and everything that's on board, crew members included. | Somalian pirates, for instance, would ask for anywhere between $150,000 and $20 million for the vessel and everything that's on board, crew members included. |
| According to Mody, in West Africa pirates are primarily after oil cargo that can be easily sold on the black market; gasoline is preferable to crude. | According to Mody, in West Africa pirates are primarily after oil cargo that can be easily sold on the black market; gasoline is preferable to crude. |
| The ship is taken for between 8 to 14 days, and the crew are normally held for that period and released at the end — unless the pirates deem them particularly valuable. | The ship is taken for between 8 to 14 days, and the crew are normally held for that period and released at the end — unless the pirates deem them particularly valuable. |
| "There's been a growth of a different form of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea," Box told The Independent, "one in which ships are violently boarded and part of the cargo stolen leaving a traumatised crew." | "There's been a growth of a different form of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea," Box told The Independent, "one in which ships are violently boarded and part of the cargo stolen leaving a traumatised crew." |
| The number of attacks around the world has increased in recent decades, but increased reporting/coverage no doubt has played a role | The number of attacks around the world has increased in recent decades, but increased reporting/coverage no doubt has played a role |
| Compared to the "more violent" West African pirates, deaths in Somali pirate attacks are "rare" — this is primarily because hostages need to survive if they're going to be traded. | |
| That's not to say those captured are not badly treated, or that casualties do not happen, but the type of attacks mean that death is something the pirates would want to avoid. | |
| That West African pirates are more violent is purely anecdotal, with a few experts saying this is the case without any data to back it up — but that's because there's not much data at all. | That West African pirates are more violent is purely anecdotal, with a few experts saying this is the case without any data to back it up — but that's because there's not much data at all. |
| Roy Paul from the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme said that it's far harder to tackle piracy in West Africa than in East because they operate in territorial waters rather than international. | Roy Paul from the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme said that it's far harder to tackle piracy in West Africa than in East because they operate in territorial waters rather than international. |
| That means the responsibility nominally lies with the nations whose waterways the pirates commit the attack; Nigeria, for instance. | That means the responsibility nominally lies with the nations whose waterways the pirates commit the attack; Nigeria, for instance. |
| Piracy in SE Asia is growing rapidly | Piracy in SE Asia is growing rapidly |
| And then there's the tangible growth area of piracy: South East Asia. | And then there's the tangible growth area of piracy: South East Asia. |
| The Mallaca Strait and the South China Sea are now home to more than half of the world's pirate incidents, most of which are raids on small coastal tankers. | The Mallaca Strait and the South China Sea are now home to more than half of the world's pirate incidents, most of which are raids on small coastal tankers. |
| Deutsche Welle calls these "fuel heists". | Deutsche Welle calls these "fuel heists". |
| "The attacks usually take place at night, with the ships' crews being held hostage for up to twelve hours – just about long enough so that their cargo ships, usually carrying petrol or diesel, are completely emptied." | "The attacks usually take place at night, with the ships' crews being held hostage for up to twelve hours – just about long enough so that their cargo ships, usually carrying petrol or diesel, are completely emptied." |
| Pottengal Mukundan, director of the IMB, said: "The frequency of these hijackings in South East Asia is an increasing cause for concern. There's a risk that the attacks and violence could increase if left unabated." | Pottengal Mukundan, director of the IMB, said: "The frequency of these hijackings in South East Asia is an increasing cause for concern. There's a risk that the attacks and violence could increase if left unabated." |
| Roy Paul said for a while there was less pirate activity in the region, but there is an undoubted resurgence. | Roy Paul said for a while there was less pirate activity in the region, but there is an undoubted resurgence. |
| They don't take hostages, especially not long-term ones, in South East Asia. "Very, very few," said Paul. | They don't take hostages, especially not long-term ones, in South East Asia. "Very, very few," said Paul. |
| The pirates, mostly from Cambodia and Indonesia, focus on the fuel. And they want to get the job done quickly because their waters are policed more comprehensively than those around Western Africa. | The pirates, mostly from Cambodia and Indonesia, focus on the fuel. And they want to get the job done quickly because their waters are policed more comprehensively than those around Western Africa. |